BLESSED?

I WANT YOU TO CONSIDER SOMETHING…

One of the most frequently used words in the Christian vocabulary is the term “blessed.”   Would you agree with that statement? 

I often hear BLESSED statements such as, “I am so blessed to have healthy children!” or “I received the promotion that I’ve been waiting for… I feel so blessed!”  Or “We just purchased the home of our dreams… we are blessed!”

So, what does it mean to be BLESSED?

Again, I say in the land of “Christendom” the word blessed is used habitually.  For instance:

1. How are you doing?  I’m ________ 
2. Have a _______ day.
3. Too _______ to be stressed!
4. I am ______ to wake up this morning.
5. I am BLESSED because I got up in my right mind, blessed because I could brush my teeth, blessed because I have teeth, blessed because I have a roof over my head, blessed because I have food to eat, blessed because I have a car to drive, blessed because I have a good job, blessed because I own the company, blessed because I’m now retired, and blessed and blessed and blessed and blessed! 

To all these instances of blessings, I applaud and say YES, thank you LORD, “for every good and perfect thing comes from GOD.”  However, do you know what—- THE SINNER MAN HAS THAT TOO—- “for he [GOD] maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” saith Matthew chapter 5 verse 45.

So, if the truth be told, the “SINNER MAN” got up this morning in their right mind, brushed their teeth, dressed themselves, had food to eat, a car to drive, a job to go to, a company they own, and furthermore —-some are amongst the world’s wealthiest people.  So, if the “SINNER MAN” is getting all the things that are associated with being blessed, I ask again, “What does BLESSED really mean and what happens when you do not feel so “blessed” in your current circumstances?”  Are we no longer considered blessed?

Today, brothers, my theme is this:  What does blessed really mean?

To help us narrow our scope and discover the answer, let us begin by figuring out the opposite word for blessed.  What is that word?  CURSED!

We know cursed is a dreadful thing, YET all these good things like good health, good careers, good family, good meals, good cars, and so forth are happening to both the SAINT and the SINNER.  Therefore, it’s hard for me to see which person is truly blessed and which one is cursed.  So, perhaps we should not be looking to “simply” associate the word BLESSED with anything that is outwardly tangible or visible.  In fact, Jesus says in Matthew 16:26, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

So, if the wicked sinner gets benefits too, WHY, oh WHY family do we most often associate being blessed with positive circumstances, cash, wealth, comfort, and the absence of problems?  

SAINTS, when we, the Body of Christ, consider describing ourselves as being BLESSED let us make sure me emphasize the singular, sole, main reason that we’re blessed which is OUR SALVATION!

 You and I have been rescued from the curse of sin and death, rescued from God’s wrath which shall fall upon every unsaved & unrighteous person, and we have been graced with eternal life and a home in heaven!  

Brothers, WE ARE BLESSED BECAUSE HE CHOSE US TO BE SAVED.

Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians chapter 1:3-7,  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.”  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”

Saints, did you hear that?  BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD GOD BLESSED YOU by choosing YOU to believe in Jesus and have your sins forgiven.  So, Saints of God, do you see how SPECIAL you are, how LOVED you are by JESUS, that HE BLESSED YOU by choosing you to be SAVED!  Finally, Paul states in 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.”