Wait, what?  Which one of these is not like the other?  Blessings do not seem to fit or register with losses, hurts, tears, sicknesses, and grieving but to God it makes perfect sense.  Until we go through challenging times, hurt from others, devastating things of this imperfect world we cannot seem to focus on the blessings of knowing a perfect Savior who wants to be Lord of our lives.  Think about it.  Take all the time you need. Then read our next passage.

Luke 6, The Message

You’re Blessed

^17-21 Coming down off the mountain with them, he stood on a plain surrounded by disciples, and was soon joined by a huge congregation from all over Judea and Jerusalem, even from the seaside towns of Tyre and Sidon. They had come both to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. Those disturbed by evil spirits were healed. Everyone was trying to touch him—so much energy surging from him, so many people healed! Then he spoke:

You’re blessed when you’ve lost it all.
God’s kingdom is there for the finding.

You’re blessed when you’re ravenously hungry.
Then you’re ready for the Messianic meal.

You’re blessed when the tears flow freely.
Joy comes with the morning.

^22-23 “Count yourself blessed every time someone cuts you down or throws you out, every time someone smears or blackens your name to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and that that person is uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—skip like a lamb, if you like!—for even though they don’t like it, I do . . . and all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company; my preachers and witnesses have always been treated like this.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We will not escape times of hurt, pain, and sometimes agony of living on earth.  But blessed are we when all that happens to us works for the good of what God wants to do in us!

Jesus has become very popular on earth for two reasons: 

• He has the power to heal all sicknesses, restore broken bones, and cast out demons. 
• They also are ready and want to hear what He has to say because of these miracles.    

Yes, hungry, hurt, sick, possessed people are now ready to see, hear, and be blessed by God’s message of salvation—the forgiveness of sins.  And we are, too!

We are blessed—

• With an unconditional, relentless love that we have never experienced before knowing Him.
• With His message of mercy delivered by God’s gift of grace when we repent of our sins.
• With being made whole and set free from the bondage of past behaviors.
• When giving all back to the One who created all and owns all—the One who loves us most and wants the best for us. 
• With power and encouragement to keep moving forward, forgiving those who hurt us with sarcastic comments, critical judgements of our behavior, while rejecting Jesus who lives in us.  When people hurt us, Jesus says they hurt Him, too.
• When we ask for wisdom in doing life here.  God delights in the details!
• When we give up our control for His agenda. 
• Knowing Jesus as Savior and Lord of our everything!

When all is lost and we come to the end our ourselves we discover that all we really, ever needed was, is and forever will be Jesus.  Jesus is the Way, Truth, and Life!  Jesus is the Promised Messiah sent to save us!  What a blessing! 

God pours out His blessings in a variety of ways according to what He knows we need.  His Word proclaims and explains His blessings from the prophets to the apostles. Here are a few—

Malachi 3:10 “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”

Philippians 4:19 “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

3 John 1:2 “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.”

Acts 20:35 “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Leviticus 27:30 “Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord.”

Revelation 12:9 “And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”  God wins in the end!  Greatest blessing of all!

Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

I love this quote from Tim Keller—

“Have you heard God’s blessing in your inmost being? Are the words, ‘You are my beloved child, in whom I delight’ an endless source of joy and strength? Have you sensed, through the Holy Spirit, God speaking to you?

That blessing- the blessing through the Spirit that is ours through Christ- is what Jacob received and it is the only remedy against idolatry. Only that blessing makes idols unnecessary. As with Jacob, we usually discover this only after a life of ‘looking for blessings in all the wrong places.’ It often takes an experience of crippling weakness for us to finally discover it. That is why so many of the most God-blessed people limp as they dance for joy.”

“Count your many blessings, name them one by one…” is not about the material things of this life as much as it is about the spiritual things of God who enriches our lives with His love through believing in His Son.  The blessings we count are the ways God’s character is growing within us.  I am a life that was changed by Jesus.  I am a life that is consistently transforming by the grace of God.  He still has work to do in me!  I have not arrived, but I am blessed by His work that will be completed when I see Him face to face.

Lord,

We are blessed beyond measure by You who saved us from all our sins.  We are blessed to be able to come boldly to your throne and ask for wisdom and help.  We are blessed by the Comforter and Helper you sent to live within us to guide us.  We are blessed by your love, mercy, and grace—so undeserving—yet you pour these blessings out daily.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  I am humbled by your rich blessings to me.

In Jesus Name, Amen