Blessings
Seek the Truth with all your heart.
GOD wants to bless you, and to bless others through you.
Numbers 6:24-26 “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make HIS face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn HIS face toward you and give you peace.”
Psalm 1:1-3 ‘Blessed is the person who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on HIS law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither; whatever they do prospers.’
Psalm 32:1-2 ‘Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.’
Psalm 34:18 ‘The LORD is close to the broken-hearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalms 37:3-6 ‘Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the LORD, and HE will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in HIM and HE will do this; HE will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.’
Psalm 118:26 ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.’
Jeremiah 17:7-8 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in HIM. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Matthew 5:3-16
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the Earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in spirit, for they will see GOD.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of GOD.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the Earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your FATHER in heaven.”
Matthew 16:26 ‘What good will it be for a person if they gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?’
Mark 8:36 ‘What good is it for a person to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?’
Luke 6:20-22 ‘Looking at His disciples, He said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of GOD. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.”
‘Poor in spirit’ describes one’s weak or unsure relation to GOD.
It is the opposite of arrogant self-confidence, and selfish ego, which push GOD into irrelevance.
Being poor in spirit before GOD is the personal acknowledgement and evidence of our spiritual deficiency and need.
Those who are ‘poor in spirit’ gladly embrace GOD’s grace.
Jesus spoke the following in His ‘sermon on the mount.’ These words are part of what is known as ‘ The Beatitudes.’
Luke 18:13-14 ‘But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, “GOD have mercy on me, a sinner.” “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before GOD. For everyone who exalts themselves will be humbled, and whoever humbles themselves will be exalted.”
This is an honest confession that we are sinful and without the moral virtues that we need, to be presentable to GOD.
It’s the deepest form of repentance, and acknowledges our desperate need for GOD.
Blessed are those without self delusion, who realize that they are spiritually inadequate, and can only fulfil GOD’s standards through the help of HIS Holy Spirit.
The Beatitudes, Jesus’ sermon on the mountain (hill,) show the whole value system of Jesus.
In Luke's Gospel, it says, ‘Blessed are the poor,’ where-as In Matthew’s gospel it says ‘Poor in spirit’ which helps us to realize that when Jesus is talking about "Blessed are the poor," He is talking about an attitude, a spiritual condition, and a way of knowing one's need for GOD, which is a disposition of the heart, and not simply economic deprivation.
Poor in spirit means that we understand that none of us is responsible for our own existence. Poor in spirit means we understand our need for GOD, who GOD is, and who we are. Poor in spirit means we understand that without GOD and HIS gift of existence. It is only GOD’s love that sustains all of creation, as it continues to adapt and develop in each one of us.
Economically poor people might have a clearer sense of their need for GOD and all that HE can provide; where-as wealthy people might think they don’t need GOD because they can do whatever they want without any need for anything else. This is incredibly wrong. Life without GOD just ends in death without any eternal prospects.
Money and material goods are not a be-all and end-all for anyone, and never can be.
We understand that we need enough to have a decent life, but we don't need excess; which can become an idol - a type of ‘god’.
Life can only have full meaning, when you have a relationship with GOD and HIS values, together with the promise of eternal life in HIS kingdom. All humans have an inner yearning for meaning and purpose, without which life is hollow and becomes a ‘no through road’ - ‘a dead end road.’
Wealth can be an obstacle, and even a blockage to what matters most. It may enable a very comfortable life, but it is irrelevant to GOD. Relationship with GOD is the only way into HIS kingdom. However a wealthy person with a generous compassionate heart can be a blessing to others, especially poor and needy people.
Breathing is a blessing from GOD. Every breath that we breathe, of our average 83,400 breaths per day, is from GOD, for which we can be very thankful.
Acts 20:35 ‘In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work (with my own hands,) we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said:
It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Romans 4:7-8 “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”
James 1:25 ‘But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it - not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it - they will be blessed in what they do.’