We’ve all said it. We’ve all thought it. #Blessed for just about anything.
“I got a great parking space!”
“Buy one, get one free!”
“Pumpkin Spice Latte!”
But is this really blessed?
Now let me say this. It is true that all good gifts come from the Father above. And the aforementioned items are good gifts. But is that all that blessing is? What about when I DON’T get those things? What about when I DON’T get into college? What about when the test results say “cancer”? Am I no longer blessed?
Jesus uses the word blessed in Matthew 5 to turn our attention a different direction. The term he uses in the ancient language might better be translated “congratulations.” And he’s congratulating us for something rather unique: “Congratulations to those of you who are spiritually bankrupt! Congratulations to those of you are meek and lowly!” What’s so good about this? Is this really #blessed?
In Jesus’ eyes, it is. Because only those who recognize how much they need God will truly accept God. For the rest of us, we spend our days trying to be God and when we don’t feel blessed we get angry with God. When all the while God is saying, “Realize how much you need me … and I’ll take over, and you’ll know what it means to be blessed.”
So congratulations to those of you who are broken, addicted, hurt, betrayed, sad, depressed, confused, lonely … your emptiness can make way for the fulfillment only your Heavenly Father can bring. That would be truly #blessed.