The word “blessed” has been very popular over the past years. You can see it now widely used to describe people’s accomplishments, possessions, or relationships. It seems that the overall message is that being blessed means having something or someone. We have fallen into such an individualistic and self-focused gospel that we decide to be defined as blessed in this way likely because we haven’t achieved true blessing from God. But let me tell you what Jesus considers to be blessed.
“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 heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children 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.” Matthew 5:3-12
Jesus brought a whole new meaning of being blessed. We know this scripture. Why have we forgotten about it?
It can be so easy to fall into the trends of this world. Let me tell you what being blessed does not look like:
- Boasting about being blessed. These people are the ones needing a blessing the most. They need to count what they have in their hands because they haven’t achieved the spiritual blessing that comes from Jesus.
- The abundance of material things. Being prosperous is not the same as being blessed. While I think that prosperity is a good thing, a blessing is achieved in the spiritual word. Spiritual blessings, as the ones defined by Jesus, are achieved in the middle of loss, betrayal and undesired situations through submission in quietness, obedience and sacrifice.
- Competition, achieving more, or being better than others: There is no way that this can relate to spiritual blessing. It would be a contradiction to say that you are blessed if you do not have fruits in the spirit. Being blessed leads to the fruit of the spirit manifesting on us.
What happens with the people that do not have that which we have defined as a blessing for us? They are not blessed, because they cannot have possessions, titles, children, or a relationship?
We cannot preach to the world about another blessing other than what Jesus brings. The blessing that only He can give. We can preach to them the God who is in the middle of everything, in the middle of joy and peace but also in the middle of the storm and tragedy. He is the one that changes our outcomes how no other could because He is the prince of Peace, comforter, Friend and Counselor. That is a true blessing.
We might be going through sorrow, but we are still blessed. We might be in need, but we are still blessed. We might have lost, but we are still blessed. We need to go back to the Word and be defined by it and find our identity on it.
