“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3
Dear Ones:
It is one thing to be blessed in heaven in Christ. It is quite another to know the blessedness of Christ in our hearts on this earth. With regard to heaven, and Christ at the right hand of God, we must grasp the truth, reality, and scope (in the measure that we can trust God for it), of our oneness with the Lord Jesus, and that HE is our life. In Him, we have all…everything that pertains to life and godliness on this earth. As the hymn-writer put it: “…and every need Thou wouldst supply, and all my longings satisfy.” But what are the “channels” of blessing by which that which is in heaven becomes operative and effectively revealed in us who believe?
In Matthew’s gospel, in what has been termed, “The Sermon on the Mount,” we find the Lord Jesus revealing something of Himself pertaining to blessing, and the means by which it is received. He begins with the words: “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” (5:3) It is to those who feel very keenly their profound need of Him, and the grace of God, that the blessings of heaven are given. The promise associated with this attitude is, “…for theirs is the kingdom of God.” He then goes to “…they that mourn.” (v.4) The awakened, believing soul, is one who “mourns” in his heart because of sin, and its effects of suffering and sorrow. “Blessed are the meek.” (v.5) The Lord said of Himself, “…I am meek and lowly of heart.” What did He mean? There was no pride in him, only a total, humble dependence upon His Father for all. The promise: “They shall inherit the earth.” There is reward in this meekness, for there is the inheritance of His blessing on this earth. “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness.” The heart that has seen something of the glory of God, hungers and thirsts for more. In this sinful world, there is an acute desire for that which is “right” in the eyes of God. “Blessed are the merciful.” The meek and lowly heart is one that gives, even to the one who is undeserving from every standpoint. Herein is God-likeness. “Blessed are the pure in heart.” (v.8) Christ reveals Himself to the heart, and through the life, of those who live in His purity of heart, His cleanness by the washing of His precious blood. (1 Jn. 1:7) “Blessed are the peacemakers.” (v.9) True blessing is revealed in the peace of God that is known, and communicated to others. It is out of that Divine peace, that men will know something of peace among themselves. There is a promise associated with every description of the blessing of God in the heart, and through the life. That promise is God’s covenant-commitment to BLESS in a certain way. It is as we trust Christ for the revealed channels of blessing from heaven, that His blessing can be received and given to others. The question then becomes: “How much does God desire to bless us, and all men, on this earth, “…as it is in heaven?”
Perhaps one way for us to begin to grasp God’s desire concerning His blessing of men, is to realize that the Lord Jesus did NOT die on the cross for just some people, at the exclusion of others. He would have, “…all men to be saved.” (1 Timothy 2:4) Peter would add: “…(The Lord)…is not willing that any should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9). This truth reflects the enormous measure of His blessing.
Dear Father, give us receptive hearts, clean and surrendered. Fill them with Love Divine, receiving the fullness of Your blessing in Christ, for the world to see, and embrace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad