BLESSED . . .
“May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 115:15
“God bless you!” We often hear those words spoken after someone sneezes or when we leave a friend. Usually we are wishing good fortune on someone else. Sometimes we use those words without realizing what we are actually saying. What does it mean to be blessed?
Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is to receive earthly blessings and gifts. God blessed Adam and Eve in the Garden: “He created them male and female and blessed them” (Genesis 5:2). In Judges 13:24, God blessed young Samson: “He grew and the LORD blessed him.” And Mary felt especially blessed for being chosen as the mother of Jesus, “From now on all generations will call me blessed” (Luke 1:48).
But God’s blessings go much deeper than earthly things. God’s children can be blessed even if things are not going well. The Beatitudes teach us that we can be blessed in famine, persecution, or any other worldly tragedy. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4).
As God’s children, we are blessed regardless of our circumstances. We are still under the watchful eye of our Lord. We still can find comfort in his loving arms, and we still can be assured of forgiveness and a future life in heaven. Psalm 32:1 speaks to this: “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered” (Psalm 32:1).
James 1:12 sums up our spiritual blessings this way: “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” We are truly blessed!
From: Precious Words of the Bible by Reynold R. Kremer