Who Is Blessed?

“What can I give back to God for the blessings He's poured out on me? I'll lift high the cup of salvation - a toast to God!”

- Bono

How easy is it to say we are “blessed” to live in San Diego, have a great car, a beautiful home or amazing children? And yet, I wonder why a friend who is generous towards God and the church, maintains high integrity in business and is a loving father and husband, gets cancer and dies. It doesn’t feel like God is fair! Is blessing really about material things or the recognition we receive on earth?

This past weekend, we looked at “barak”, the Hebrew word for blessing in the Old Testament. It is translated literally “to kneel, to praise.” This definition is found 330 times in 289 verses of the Old Testament. Pastor Jared reminded us we are part of God’s original blessing at creation. God blessed Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:28. When Eve went on a hunt for the juiciest apple in the garden, sin entered the picture and humanity has been living in “expectation” of what we want God to give us and grumbling when things don’t go our way ever since.

When Ken and I arrived in the country of Mozambique a few years ago, our host picked us up from the airport and we left for our destination. Suddenly we were dodging pedestrians, bicycles, taxis and cars weaving down muddy, makeshift roads. It was like a monster truck rally on steroids! We arrived at our host home and sat in a cinder block kitchen with flies swarming around us and all over the food on the table. That evening after I spoke at the church service, I watched people respond to God by dancing, singing and shouting praise! Throughout our visit, the people talked about how blessed they were! Why did these people living in poverty and unemployed feel blessed? Because of what Jesus did for them on the cross! Each time I have been on the continent of Africa, most often in the squatter camps of Johannesburg, South Africa, I’ve heard stories of God’s blessings in the lives of our friends. Like Ezra said to the remnant of the children of Israel returning from captivity, “The joy of the Lord is my (their) strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). They are blessed because of their relationship with the Creator of heaven and earth!

In studying both the Hebrew and Greek words for “blessed”, it seems blessings are closely tied with praise.

It’s a beautiful dance of knowing God’s grace and blessing mixed with blessing the Lord when we worship and praise Him for all HE has done! The result will be a deepening love for God which results in a deepening love for our family, friends, and neighbors. Realistically, the ultimate blessing is to walk close to God!

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

- Psalm 16:11

We have a choice every day of how we will live our lives. We can complain and grumble about our first world problems. We can choose behaviors that harm us or those we love. But if we live in gratitude for what Jesus has done on the cross and follow where He leads, we will live blessed and be a blessing to those around us!

So here is your assignment. Let’s be intentional about choosing joy because we are blessed, and let’s live to be a blessing!

Pastor Pam

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