Blessed of God

BLESSED OF GOD

This religious world is seeking comfort and ease from very present troubles. The expectation is, that if you give your heart to Jesus, your life will be blessed. It is something akin to karma, where if you do a good thing, the world balances out and sends a good thing back to you. Disappointment and even depression comes when it doesn't work out this way. The query often comes up among religious folk, "I just can't understand why all these terrible things are happening to them, considering how they served the Lord."

2 Corinthians 1:8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life.

It was not so with the Apostle Paul. He did not expect, and he certainly did not receive the temporal "blessings" of this life. The position and authority he once enjoyed as a zealous religious unbeliever was no more. His lot in life was filled with prison cells, lashings under the whip and ridicule by those who once called him brother Saul.

2 Corinthians 11:23-27 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

The glorious, blessed good news of the gospel is far removed from the trials, tribulations, thistles and thorns of this life. The gospel concerns a spiritual kingdom, purchased by the doing and dying of the Lord Jesus Christ. The reconciliation that He wrought in the place of His sheep was an effectual accomplishment that eternally presents them spiritually perfect before the throne of God. They are decreed to be the very righteousness of God in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21) This is the glorious gospel that was revealed to Paul, whereby he renounced his former religion, calling it dung, and preached everywhere he went, even under the threat of death.

Does the child of God pray for comfort and health in this present, evil world? Of course, but the faith of God's elect is not contingent on a tit for tat belief that if we do good, or pray a particular prayer, we are owed anything from God concerning this flesh. We have only done that which is our reasonable service and look forward to that blessed day when we will see our exceeding great reward, face to face and will with Him inherit all things.

Until then, I will go to doctor's offices, squint when I read, limp when I get out of bed and kick the dresser, wonder if that mole is changing color, hack and cough, mourn with loved ones and look forward to that blessed hope.

Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

- written by Kenny Dyess, via his Facebook page.