Blessed: Strongs Greek 3107 /makários (“blessed”) describes a believer in enviable (“fortunate”) position from receiving God’s provisions (favor) – which (literally) extend (“make long, large”) His grace (benefits). This happens with receiving (obeying) the Lord’s inbirthings of faith.

Happy, blessed, to be envied

I didn’t grow up in a Christian home.  We believed in God, but there was a lack of understanding, and maybe even trust, when it came to engaging in fellowship with other believers and having a personal relationship with Him.  Aside from infrequent visits to church at the invitation of a family member or friend, I don’t recall reading His Word, and I never put much effort into trying to truly understand who He was.  We said our bedtime prayers at night, and grace before every meal, and the one thing that stuck out was my dad’s constant repetition of “Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God”.  I’m sure at some point I asked my father what it meant, and probably received a general answer that satisfied me at the time.  Years later, after accepting Christ as my Lord and Savior, I read the Sermon on the Mount, and saw my father’s words in context of the Beatitudes.

At the opening of his sermon, Jesus shared what would truly make his disciples happy and blessed, and the present and future rewards that could be expected. It wasn’t about fame, fortune, or prestige.  It wasn’t about getting a pat on the back or a material gift we could boast about.  Instead, the rewards revolved around the joy that comes from our salvation in Christ and knowing we have favor in Him!  Oh how I needed this reminder today!  In spite of whatever you might be facing, and who may or may not recognize your efforts, Jesus makes it clear that in our mercy, meekness, humility, and righteousness, we can rejoice for our reward is in heaven!!!

Matthew 5:1-12 (AMP)

5 Seeing the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and when He was seated, His disciples came to Him.

² Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

³ Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!

⁴ Blessed and enviably happy [with a happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace] are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted!

⁵ Blessed (happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth!

⁶ Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied!

⁷ Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy!

⁸ Blessed (happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous—possessing the happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God!

⁹ Blessed (enjoying enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they shall be called the sons of God!

¹⁰ Blessed and happy and enviably fortunate and spiritually prosperous (in the state in which the born-again child of God enjoys and finds satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of his outward conditions) are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake (for being and doing right), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!

¹¹ Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account.

¹² Be glad and supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great (strong and intense), for in this same way people persecuted the prophets who were before you.

WHEN IT COMES TO BEING “BLESSED”, WHOSE STANDARDS DO YOU FOLLOW?  IS YOUR JOY IN THE LORD TODAY?!

photocredit: spirituality.org