The Blessing

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”.  Matthew 5:3

Throughout scripture, God’s word points believers to the idea of blessing. One of Jesus’ most famous sermons, the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, states, “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.” Jesus continues with six more blessings, also referred to as the Beatitudes. In my walk with the Lord, I have discovered a deeper meaning to these words. I always thought the blessings would be tangible, seen on this side of heaven. However, I believe the Lord is revealing that “blessed” is a state of being. It is a result of being near Jesus, experiencing His joy, realizing the depth of His grace, and recognizing our need for daily renewal of our minds by the Holy Spirit. In that place, we are transformed, slowly but genuinely, more into the image of Christ. It is not about performance or striving to earn anything from Him. It is about surrender, trusting that it is His blood that holds the power, not our efforts. As we submit to His will, we are changed by Him. In that place, we experience the blessing, a rich life full of the acknowledgment of how great He is and how little this life is about us. As we draw near to the Refiner, our reflection begins to look like Christ to the world that needs Him most. The question I ask myself regularly is this: am I available for God? Am I available for Him to use me to fulfill His purpose, to say yes when it is uncomfortable, and to live radically transformed for His glory to be on display? He is worthy of a life fully surrendered. A life whose only aim is pleasing Him. It is then we experience the blessing.