Traditionally in the Christian community here in America, I hear the word blessed used most often in relationship to an increase in prosperity and possessions. As I contemplated the word bless I realized that in my experience it is what I have been able to do without as a direct result of finding my value and provision in Jesus to be the true blessing in this life.
B-lessedHaving the cares and necessities of this life and the effect of the curse of sin lessened, now that is a blessing. In fact, knowing that as a child of God there is no need for me to fight for greatness and rise in popularity brings peace and contentment. My only challenge is to step aside, lifting up Jesus, allowing Him to draw all those around into eternal relationship. |
John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
(Joh 3:27-31)
In the scripture above the statement “A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven” is quite bold. I am aware that much of what I have is in fact nothing of value in the heavenly economy. This fact leaves me to ponder those eternal and true blessing I have received from heaven. We cannot know blessing if we are not seeking to B-lessed. Only God can transform us into individuals who actively seek to be less. It is in direct opposition to our sinful nature that demands we become the gods of our own little universe. In a season when the hero of the day is a jolly man who give everyone the things they desire if they have behaved in ways that please him we can be encouraged. The true hero is the one who gives us everything we do not deserve because he has taken the wages of our sin and replaced them with His Grace. He is the one who provided us with eternal gifts that are impervious to moths, rust, thieves and even fire. He does not force us to value what He has to offer. We are free to chase after all the stuff in the world. It is one or the other .
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
(Mat 6:20-34)
