[Most] blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is. Jeremiah 17:7 (Amplified Version)
As a believer in Jesus Christ, do you realize how truly blessed you are? It is so easy to take God’s blessings for granted!
I am sure most of you are familiar with (what has been called) the Beatitudes taught by Jesus in Matthew 5. Each verse starts with the word “Blessed”. In the Amplified Version of the Bible, the word “blessed” has the following amplifications:
v. 3 Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions)
v. 4 Blessed and enviably happy [with a happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace]
v. 7 Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation)
So you can see that being truly blessed has nothing to do with worldly blessings – but spiritual blessings that are yours only when you believe in, trust in and rely on the Lord, and by putting your hope and confidence in him.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3
So, let’s take a moment and read through the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 5:3-12 and remember . . .
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The Book of Revelation is also quite clear about those who will be blessed.
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. Revelation 1:3
I encourage you this week to make a list of all your spiritual blessings, and be thankful and grateful that you are truly blessed!
