How to be Blessed

How to be Blessed

(Blessed is the Man) (a dissertation on Psalms Chapter One)

Surely, if all men truly believed that there was a God, then it stands to reason that all men would desire to be blessed by that God!

And history verifies that this is so true! Sadly, the gods that most of humanity has believed in have been false gods!

From the very beginning of time, mankind has sought “favors” from the gods of his own imaginations. 

Men have turned to sorcery, incantations, witchcraft, astrology, sacrifices, divination and all sorts of philosophies to satisfy man’s longing to gain the favor of the gods.

But, from a Biblical point of view, a blessed person is first and foremost a man or woman who is in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and who no longer submits themselves to pursuing the favor of this world or to acquiring the favor of its false gods, but rather submits themselves to the one true Creator God and his Word!

When thinking of gaining favoritism of the gods, people often imagine that they can acquire a place of higher status and enjoy a more successful life. 

Most people, even many Christians seem to think that being highly favored of God means being blessed with a great life, lots of money, lots of things, prominent position and so forth. 

But the Bible indicates that the true God’s favor often comes with added duties and sometimes with difficult challenges. Jesus himself was the absolute embodiment of everything that God favors! Yet, Jesus never enjoyed having a home, a job, fame, children or worldly type success. 

Christians need to realize that any favors of God is not necessarily for our worldly benefit but rather for the benefit of God’s Kingdom. Our whole purpose as children of God is to honor and glorify him and to keep his commandments.

God is not limited in His favor. He does not rank us in order of importance, nor is His favor something we might earn by work or living piously. 

Still, God does seek out those who love Him and keep His commands so that He can bless them, guide them and protect them, according as his purposes might be accomplished.

Therefore, each and every Christian’s hearts desire should always be to please their Creator and Savior, and find fulfillment in cooperating in the Lords great program to establish the Kingdom of God.

So then, How can we find ourselves being Blessed by God?

Jeremiah 17:7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

Jeremiah 17:8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

Over and over again, the Holy Word of God informs the reader that the best way to enjoy the blessings and favor of God is simply by trusting in God and revering his Word!

 

The above words of Jeremiah portrays a man’s trust in the Lord being comparable to a tree planted by much needed water, and extending its roots out towards the life-giving waters of a river; thus enabling the tree to endure all weather conditions. 

The Psalmist Expands on How to Be Blessed by God

Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Here in verse number one, we find that any blessings or favors from God can never be attained by consulting with those who are aligned with this world or its presumed gods!

The word “counsel” used here refers to the advice, teaching or philosophy of ungodly proponents. To stray from the direct word of God and compromise with other counsels is anathema to meriting the favor of Almighty God!

Secondly, verse one also warns everyone against allowing ungodly counsel to cause you to obfuscate the simple true message of Gods marvelous salvation to non believers!

The allusion to the  “seat of the scornful” is a serious warning to all religious leaders about being scoffers of Gods Word, and in essence thereby mocking God’s precious promises. 

Blessed are those who properly distinguish between the truth of God and the fables of this Humanistic world!  

Psalms 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

The Favor of God is heavily bestowed upon all those who cherish Gods Word and his law and devours it daily! Jesus said: “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God!”

Psalms 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

For the person who possesses the wisdom to honor Gods Word and hide it in his heart, he truly is connected to a source of life like a tree planted near life sustaining waters! The Word of God is truly a never ending source of Blessing!

Psalms 1:4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

For the person who is “not planted” in the Word of God and fully trusting in the Lord, his whole life will incessantly be one that the world can easily blow in any direction! To be ignorant of Gods word is to live a life without any moorings! 

Psalms 1:5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

The Word of the Lord not only can bestow upon the faithful, Grace and mercy, and the Favor of God; but it shall also enable the trusting man to Stand before Almighty God on Judgment Day as being Uncondemned! The ungodly man can never know this sense of security! 

Psalms 1:6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

The Lord surely honors the faithfulness of all his obedient children! The Lord is continually seeking to Bless his righteous children. Truly it is that the blessings and favor of God are not temporal; but Eternal!

Romans 4:8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Those who are favored of God can always know that God is with them and that nothing can happen to them apart from His good purpose; and that is in and of itself the greatest Blessing of all! 

Highly Favored

We all probably aspire to be Favored of God! But does God play favorites? Well, even if he does, it doesn’t necessarily mean that our earthly lives will be care-free! The truth of this matter is that God has already Highly Favored all of us with the offer of salvation! But, In fact, being Favored by God may well mean that we will be targeted by this world and it’s gods for destruction. 

It stands to reason that Jesus Christ, Gods only begotten Son was very highly favored of God! And for those who trust in the Lord, and adhere devoutly to his word, he too will someday be like Jesus; Highly Favored!

The Bible only uses the phrase of one being “highly favored” on one occasion. It was in connection to the birth of Jesus, and the pregnancy of Mary, when the Angel Gabriel made the following proclamation: 

Luke 1:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured,

Why was Mary so Highly Favored? Was she more excellent than other women? Was she much more righteous than any other candidates? The main reason that Mary was “highly favored” for giving birth to Jesus was simply because, as she stated upon knowing the “Purpose of God,” she simply said, “Be it unto me according to thy Word!”

No wonder she was Highly Favored! But even in her status of being highly favored by God, she had to later endure the “sword piercing her heart.”

How can you be blessed by God? How can you be Highly Favored by God? Perhaps historys greatest example of a life blessed by God; and a man who gained the Favor of God; was the life of a man who gave up his life for the Lord’s Purpose! Paul:

Philippians 1:20-21 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but thatwith all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Psalms 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Psalms 112:1 Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to “His Purpose.

Focus on the Bible

January 6, 2021

by: Darrell G. Young