“Blessed”

You win a contEsther The rain holds out long enough for you to go outside

with your friends. You have a loving family. You get a good grade on a

school assignment All those things could signal to others that you are

blessed. Our world often associates blessing with being rich,

comfortable, talented, successful, and happy. But is this really what it

means to be blessed?

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In Matthew 5:1-12, Jesus teaches something called The Beatitudes, which

means Blessedness. Jesus lists qualities of what it looks like to live a

life of blessing, of following Him in life to the full (John 10:10).

Many of these blessed qualities are surprising: Blessed are the poor in

spirit? Blessed are those who mourn? Blessed are those who are

persecuted? What is Jesus saying?

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Especially at that time in history, no one would have thought people who

were weak, sorrowful, or poor could be blessed. Blessing was about strength

and wealth and status. But Jesus reveals that in God’s kingdom, things look

different. His definition of blessing isn’t about how much we have or how

happy our family is or how healthy we are. These are all good things, but

blessing is about what matters most of all: knowing God through Jesus. This

is the good news, that through Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, we

are rescued from sin and death, we get to live a purposeful life in

restored relationship with God, and we have hope for eternal life with Him.

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Being blessed doesn’t mean our circumstances instantly transform to be

better, but God transforms us through the Holy Spirit and helps us realize

God’s blessings are all around us, even in the hard times. Because even on

the hardest days, in all the highs and lows of the craziness of life, we

can be deeply joyful and peaceful as we rest in God’s truth: He loves us

deeply, and nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:35-39). We can

learn to trust Him through all the challenges of life because our hope is

beyond our present. God is always good, and He works even the hardest

things toward His good plan. And all along the way, He helps us grow closer

to Him. Abby Ciona

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In Matthew 5:1-12, who does Jesus say are blessed? Which of these lines

do you think is the most surprising? Why?

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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. James 1:12 (NIV)

Read Verses:

Matthew 5:1-Matthew 5:12; James 1:12