Blessings

Blessings come in all sorts of ways and probably the good part of them we are truly thankful for, I would like to think.  A lot of what we think of as blessings are good health, nice family, gifts that we receive from others, a nice house, also gifts in ministries along with the talent to perform the ministries plus advancement in our employment, basically the good things that happen to us in our walk with the Lord!!  You know like days when it is sunny, not too hot or cold, hearing the right speaker or the right song at just the right time when we feel that we need it the most.  There are large and small blessings and many times we are blessed, and we don’t hardly even notice.  It wouldn’t hurt to write down the many times you have been blessed.

Have you ever heard this, ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away?’  How about this, ‘one blessing a day helps keep the blues away.’  I think if we were all honest, many of us take many of our blessings for granted, just thinking that when nice things happen, that, that’s the way things should happen.  Let me ask you this question: how many of you would say that suffering could be a great blessing also?  How many of you could suffer and praise the Lord in and through it?

There was a man in the Word of God that suffered, along with many others, that flat out worshiped God while suffering a great deal; this man’s name was Job.  He not only lost family members but most everything he had, even his health and he still worshiped God even when his wife said something like this, ‘are you still holding onto your integrity, just curse God and die,’ but Job said something close to this in his response to her, ‘you foolish woman should we accept only the good things from God and not the bad,’ and he still didn’t curse God with his mouth.  Job didn’t understand why He had to go through these testing’s, but in the end, he understood and was a better person because of them.  I want you to understand that his suffering didn’t happen over a one day period, no, it went on for a while, and he had a lot of unanswered questions and he also got a lot of bad advice from his so called friends that truly didn’t help him at all, no, the advice did more hurt then good.   

I think that many times when people have gone through, such testing’s they have thrown in the towel, so to speak, and gave up and walked away from God.  They may have hung in there for a while but when the heavens seemed like brass and they didn’t think that their prayers were going to be answered, they just quit and walked away from the Lord, and some never came back.  Some of this turning away could stem from emotional problems but I can’t rule out the fact that some of this may have come from bad teaching from pastors, teachers or evangelists that only preach or teach a ‘feel-good’ message, afraid they will offend someone.  Think of this, if you are a believer living in sin would you want to hear a convicting message or a pat on the back type of message that goes like this; don’t worry about it, God loves you and you are alright in His eyes, His grace covers all your sins.  

Let me make this very clear, if you sin God does not wink at your sin and He will hold you responsible for it and your sin will cause you to be separated from Him.  The good news is this, “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness,” 1 John 1:9 which was written to the communities (church).

This was also written to the communities (church), Paul speaking to the people, in the community in 2 Corinthians 7:10-13, “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter. Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you. Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.”

Even in Job’s situation he had to repent in the end and he did and he was forgiven and the same thing will happen to all who humble themselves before the Lord and truly repent and confess their sins, please read Job 42:1-6, “Then Job answered the Lord and said: ‘I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’ I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

Persecution is something else that can be very painful, that we should count as a blessing according to God’s Word.  Take Paul and Silas for example, when they were thrown into prison about midnight they were praying and singing hymns, praising God.  Read what it says about this subject in Acts 16:25, “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”

Now think of this, these men suffered persecution willingly because they could have made it known that they were Roman citizens, but they didn’t choose to do that, if they did they would not have suffered as they did.

It may seem strange that we can be suffering, and it is also considered a blessing, if we suffer for the cause of Christ Jesus because God’s Word says this in Matthew 5:10-12, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

   

Paul was happy to suffer for Christ, please read 2 Timothy 2:8-13, “Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.”

Blessings come in many forms, be careful that you don’t just take them for granted, but thank the good Lord for each of them.

I think you got the message, so I don’t have to go on and on.  I hope this has been a blessing and a help to whoever reads this Tidbit!!  May the good Lord bless you and yours and may you all have a super day!  Don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord for He is worthy!!