Be Blessed

The Bible has a lot to say about being blessed. In what we call the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5, Jesus makes several statements that all begin with "Blessed are. . ." Jesus talks about a variety of people -- the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted because of righteousness. "Blessed" means a state of utmost bliss or supremely happy.

Think about it. . .Jesus said you'll be happy if you hunger and thirst for righteousness; you'll be happy if you are a peacemaker, you can even know happiness if you are being persecuted because you're living right before God and with others.

James, the Lord's brother, also talked about being blessed. He said, "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial. . ." James 1:12, and, "But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it -- he will be blessed in what he does" James 1:25.

It seems like we all want to find happiness, but too often we're looking in the wrong places. There's no secret place happiness is hiding. We can find the happiness we long to know by being "in Christ." Being "in Christ" means we're connected to Jesus; we're abiding in Him -- hanging on to Him, staying close to Him. It means that we understand the Truths that Jesus taught are for us. They teach us how to live the way God wants us to live.

Let's let the Word of God have an impact on our lives -- today, and every day. As a follower of Jesus, we really can know happiness -- it's the Lord's desire for us. It is readily available to us as we live, not for ouselves, but as a servant of the Lord.

For the building of God's kingdom,

Pastor Mike