Friday, December 24, 2010

True blessing

Do I see all that happens to me or that I suffer as God's design for blessing me?
When experiencing distress in any form or cause, the natural reaction is to find an escape from, or solution to this distress. Life becomes an endless pursuit of avoiding distress, whether it is emotional or physical. As it is impossible to avoid everything that will upset us or prevent all physical ups and downs, life becomes a frustrating struggle in which there are brief moments of "success" surrounded by situations in which we are unable to avoid distress. "Joy" in experienced when physical or emotional stress is avoided or resolved; God is praised for these "blessings".
But blessing does not come from a stress-free life. It comes from: 1)being poor in spirit; 2) mourning over sin; 3)being in submission to the Spirit's control (meek); 4) hungering and thirsting after righteousness; 5)being merciful; 6) purity of heart; 7)being a peacemaker; and 8) persecution for being righteousness. (Matthew 5:3-10)
How can poverty of spirit, mourning over sin bring blessing? Blessing would not be possible without them. Blessing comes from delight in, and fellowship with God. "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" (Psalm 34:8) If we are trusting in ourselves, and putting our confidence in what we do, then God isn't what we are delighting in or trusting; therefore, no blessing. If we are full of ourselves, there is no room for Him! Those who are poor in spirit are those who see the utter futility of their efforts to achieve peace, joy, contentment and satisfaction. They see that they are unable, God is able; that we are weak, He is strong; He never fails, but we do. The start to blessing is acknowledging our need of God and what He provides for us. Once this is done, acknowledging what offends Him and prevents fellowship(sin)and depending on Him for the forgiveness made possible through the sacrifice of Jesus. The more we know Him, the more we are offended by what offends Him,and mourn over our sin; as we agree with Him about our sin and the sin of others, we are blessed, for we honor Him.
Everything else described in v.5-10 of Matthew 5 are a result of abiding in Christ, having fellowship with the Father. When we are in fellowship with Him, we will hunger and thirst after righteousness; we will have mercy because of the great mercy shown to us; we will be pure in faith and in heart; we will bring peace and not strife, because we will bless and not curse when attacked (v.9, 44-45); the more we are like Christ, the more we will be persecuted (v.10-11), "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you." (John 15;18)
To want to avoid that which is painful, uncomfortable, or inconvenient is understandable. Doesn't the absence of these things make life more enjoyable? On the surface, that is exactly what they may appear to do; but any "enjoyment" that is found this way is temporary and lasts only for a moment.
If however, we choose to abandon our way, our means, and our will for God's, and accept all emotional and physical distress as part of His design to bring true blessing into our lives, we will find that knowing Him is a blessing that far surpasses anything the we can achieve without Him.