Blessedness

 If asked to cite a passage of scripture that talks about blessings, there’s a good chance you’d think of the first part of the Sermon on the Mount, known as the Beatitudes. Here the Greek word makarios, translated into English as blessed, means to be in a fortunate or enviable position. In other words, to receive a greater share of God’s favor than others.

However, what Jesus describes here aren’t the sort of people we would naturally think of as enviable. The poor. The meek. The hungry. The mournful. The merciful. The persecuted. And yet all of these he puts in the context of recognizing our reliance on God, and his enabling and sanctifying grace.

He promises that we will be comforted, forgiven, purified, filled with righteousness, see God, and as his children, inherit his heavenly kingdom when it is come upon the earth.

What he is promising us here is the gift of transformation. Of being made new creatures in Christ. While there is no guarantee of the earthly blessedness and protection we may desire, he promises that he will cause all things to work together for the good of those who love him. Even our deepest sorrows will become the instruments of his grace.

Ask yourself, what is this transformation worth to me? Do I hunger and thirst after righteousness? His righteousness. Do I yearn to be freed from sin? To be pure as he is pure. To see his face and know that I have become like him.

Even if I don’t always feel this way, do I turn to him each day, and seek for him to renew this desire within me?