Blessed!

Do you know what BLESSED means?

It means “happy” and the Greek word is:

Makários (from mak-, "become long, large") – literally, God extends (makes large) His grace to us.

And when He does, all kinds of good can come from it, like this:

Eirḗnē (from eirō, "to join, tie together into a whole") – properly, wholeness, when all essential parts are joined together, peace comes (God's gift of wholeness).

Jesus tells us in the Beatitudes what a truly blessed person looks like--but funny, at first glance it does not look or sound anything like how the world would describe a blessed person.

The world says a “blessed” person is:

-Rich

-Laughing

-Powerful

-Popular

-Never in need

-Someone who has “got it made” in all areas of life.

But not Jesus. Here is what He says in Mathew 5:3-12:

3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.

6 Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

8 Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me.

12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Why does Jesus say this? Because God’s ways are not our ways. And we, as believers, do not need to get our “happy” from this world or the things of this world because our “Core” is Jesus.

Therefore, those:

-Who know they need God (the poor in spirit)

-Mourn (over their sin, knowing it breaks God’s heart)

-Who are meek (have a patient and controlled response to adversity)

-Who hunger and thirst after God (for He is the ONLY ONE who can satisfy our soul hunger)

-Who are merciful (extends forgiveness to others, not because others deserves it, but because they themselves have been greatly forgiven and can pass on what they have received)

-Who have a clean heart (no sin sticks and stains their heart because they keep short accounts with God)

-Who can be peacemakers (the word means “whole-makers” because we are God’s children and He is whole and makes us whole, completely joined together with no loose ends and we share that wholeness with others)

Are BLESSED!

And so, when these blessed ones are persecuted or falsely accused, they can rejoice! They see themselves as counted in good company, with the prophets and even Jesus Christ Himself.

So pray, and ask God to be your “Happy”. Because if you embrace Him and His ways, no matter what this word dishes out...you will be “BLESSED”!

“Blessed are those who trust in the LORD; the LORD will be their trust.” Jeremiah 17:7

Dear Lord,

Thank You for extending Your grace to me and giving me the faith I need to trust in You, that is what leads to the BLESSED life. I pray You will help me, as an act of my will, to choose You in big and small ways everyday. Lord, I want You to be my Core--for You to be my “Happy”. Come now and fill me. I abandon myself to You, by Your grace, make me whole, for this alone will bring me my heart’s deepest desire, heaven on earth, which is unending relationship with You.

I ask this in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.