ARE YOU ALIGNED FOR BLESSING?

ALIGNED FOR BLESSING                                           Matthew 5: 1 - 12
           
We read and hear much today about the blessing of  God in the life of 
the believer.  Is this automatic, or is there a special or unique blessing 
for one who will access that blessing by his manner of life?

    When we look into Christ’s  “Sermon on  the Mount,”  we see one is
positioned for the blessing of God, is dependent upon God in faith and
mourns  his  own spiritual  state.  The child of  God who is  meek, hun-
gers  and thirsts after the righteousness of God,  is merciful;  a  peace
maker in this life, is blessed in this life and that to come.  Even a false
brother will not make one bitter if he is not earthbound. Another  qua-
lification for a child of  God to  be uniquely  blessed is  Spiritual  matu-
rity. The word translated, “perfect,”  means he is complete or mature.  
Spiritual  maturity comes to one who  is a  faithful  doer  of  the Work, 
not  just a  hearer of  the Word.  Blessing is  also  awarded one who is 
contending for the faith,  refusing to call  attention to  his  good works,
concealing  his faithful  prayer,  fasting,  (self  denial)  and  shares  his 
substance.  This person  is active  in seeking  the advancement of  the
Kingdom of God on the earth,  aware  God  has promised to supply his 
material  needs.   Therefore,  materialism  is not  a  priority.  His  faith 
is in God’s provision,  not in his own efforts.

     In addition to the “Sermon on the Mount,” Psalms  make  reference
to the blessing for which God’s children may qualify.  Although  Divine
Providence  is active  in  the  world today,  blessing all  men,  there are  
unique blessings for  those who  obey the voice of  God as revealed  in 
Holy Writ.   In the book of  Psalms,  chapter 1, one is blessed  when he 
refuses ungodly counsel,  stands against lawbreakers and is not scorn-
ful.  ( holds none in contempt)  There is also a further  blessing for one
who is known to delight in God’s law  and  meditate upon it  “both day 
and night.” This is the key to knowing  how to qualify for the blessing;  
meditating  on the "Law of  God," as  revealed in Scripture.  In  Psalm
32:  1-2,  we  quote,  “Blessed is  he  whose  transgression is forgiven. 
Blessed  is the man to whom  the Lord does not  impute iniquity, And 
in whose spirit  there is  no deceit.”  (guile)  In  Psalms, 128  there  is a 
blessing  for  the  man  who “fears  the Lord and in Psalms 132 there is 
blessing  for God’s chosen  people,  the Jews who  keep  His  covenant 
and  in chapter 133  the blessing  of  “life forevermore”  for the chosen 
of  God who dwell in unity.  (Will our Lord give His blessing on congre-
gations where  strife and bickering is evident?)

     In the Proverbs, 3: 5 -10,  there is one  that  really stands  out.  We  
are to  honor the Lord  with our possessions and we will  be blessed in  
a material  sense.  In  Malachi,  God is warning  His people  about the 
way they give to  Him,  encouraging  them to try,  trust and prove Him 
with their gifts.   He has promised to pour out  blessing,  more than we 
can receive.  This is the only Scripture,  (of  which  I am aware)  where
where one is challenged to “try” the Lord.”

      In the New Testament book of John,  chapter 20: 29  we  find those
who have  not  seen  the Christ, but  have expressed  their faith in Him 
are especially blessed. Hebrews 12: 1, “Faith is the substance of things 
hoped for, the evidence of  things  not seen...”   "the  elders received  a 
good report..." for their  faith, not  works.   We are  also positioned  for
blessing according to John 12: 23-26  when we  assume the role of  ser-
vants, and prefer others  to self.  God will not  bless a self-serving  indi-
vidual.  Reading in  the Revelation of  Jesus Christ 16: 15 and  2 Corin-
thians 5: 1-4, 10; We find  those  of  us who are  watching for  the soon 
return of  our Lord Jesus Christ to  the earth are blessed  and  clothed 
in eternity.  In James we read, "faith  without  works is dead."  
                         (How could the Lord bless a dead faith?) 

 "Even so faith, if it hath not works is dead, being alone."  James 2:17

Finally, there is something more than merely being blessed.  We must 
seek to  be a blessing.   Blessing God’s children,  and  those who  may 
not as yet,  have received Christ or had Him revealed to them.  Christ 
in you is the "... hope of glory..."  for  you and  for them  in Colossians 
1: 27.  (read 24-29)  

    "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of
      this  mystery among the Gentiles;  which is Christ in you,  the hope
        of glory."

The most frequently mentioned blessing in the Psalms is that we may 
bless the Lord our God.  Since our eternal destiny is wrapped in  our
relationship to Jesus Christ, this  is without question, the most impor-
tant of the blessings in which we which we are  privileged to be  invol-
ved.   In Psalms 34:1-4, a Psalm of  David, we read: 
"I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my 
   mouth.  My soul shall make her boast in the Lord:  the humble shall 
   hear  thereof,  and be glad.  O  magnify the Lord with me,  and let us 
   exalt  his name together.  I sought the Lord, and  He heard  me  and
   delivered me from all my fears."  Amen!    

donporter, 9.13.12, (12.16.14, 3.10.16, ed.)