The Blessedness of Life The Blessedness of Life
02/08/09 14:20
Jesus said that it was
more blessed to give than to receive and I have found
that to be the truth in my own life. I always enjoy
giving more than receiving. I like helping rather
than being helped. I get uncomfortable more times
than not, when I am being helped. I have found this
law at work in my life: When I receive, I want more;
and contentment flees like a scared bandit. I am
miserable when I’m not contented.
Discontentment breeds ingratitude and ingratitude
makes me envious, sullen and cranky. Guess what?
Nobody wants to be around a sullen and cranky person!
And so, to add insult to injury, I am left alone in my misery. Wow! What a life. Can you imagine living alone with your thoughts that continually nag day and night? “You should have gotten that promotion.” “How is it that no one blesses you with groceries?” “They should have picked me.” “I deserved that more than they.” On and on it goes, only to make your life more miserable still.
“If only I could excite some pity for myself, then I would see things turn around. If I could get people to feel sorry for me, then I could get what I wanted –what I deserve.” Honey, if your life has gotten so bad that you need pity to get through your day, to go on with life, then let me tell you about a Friend of mine.
He lived for Someone else; He came not to do His own will, but the will of His Heavenly Father. By all rights, He should have been born in a palace, and yet, there was no room for Him at the inn. His own brothers did not believe Him and His family said He was out of His mind. Foxes have holes and the birds have nests, but He didn’t have a place to rest His head. There were murderous attempts on His life and yet He continued on with His purpose. He would bless folks with food and healings and they would walk away from Him when He tried to teach them. They wanted Him to give them what they demanded and they refused to receive what He had to offer.
He was acquainted with sorrow and familiar with suffering. He was despised and rejected by men. He was chastised so that men could know peace. Instead of a crown of gold, his brow felt the sting of thorns. Instead of a scepter, He received the scourge. He gave and gave, until at last, He gave it all –His Life. But here is something that you may never have thought of. If you or I were to ask Jesus what He thought about His life, would He change anything if He had it to do all over again? I am sure He would say, “I wouldn’t change a thing.” Jesus lived the most blessed life because it consisted of giving. He was contented, though He owned nothing.
He knew peace beyond any man and joy that surpassed our imagination. We sustain ourselves with food, He sustained Himself by doing His Father’s will. He knew the blessedness of life. His life was and is the blessedness that we so desperately long for. He is the blessedness of Life.
“My purpose is that you may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that you may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that you may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:2,3
Have a God blessed week!
Pastor Jim
And so, to add insult to injury, I am left alone in my misery. Wow! What a life. Can you imagine living alone with your thoughts that continually nag day and night? “You should have gotten that promotion.” “How is it that no one blesses you with groceries?” “They should have picked me.” “I deserved that more than they.” On and on it goes, only to make your life more miserable still.
“If only I could excite some pity for myself, then I would see things turn around. If I could get people to feel sorry for me, then I could get what I wanted –what I deserve.” Honey, if your life has gotten so bad that you need pity to get through your day, to go on with life, then let me tell you about a Friend of mine.
He lived for Someone else; He came not to do His own will, but the will of His Heavenly Father. By all rights, He should have been born in a palace, and yet, there was no room for Him at the inn. His own brothers did not believe Him and His family said He was out of His mind. Foxes have holes and the birds have nests, but He didn’t have a place to rest His head. There were murderous attempts on His life and yet He continued on with His purpose. He would bless folks with food and healings and they would walk away from Him when He tried to teach them. They wanted Him to give them what they demanded and they refused to receive what He had to offer.
He was acquainted with sorrow and familiar with suffering. He was despised and rejected by men. He was chastised so that men could know peace. Instead of a crown of gold, his brow felt the sting of thorns. Instead of a scepter, He received the scourge. He gave and gave, until at last, He gave it all –His Life. But here is something that you may never have thought of. If you or I were to ask Jesus what He thought about His life, would He change anything if He had it to do all over again? I am sure He would say, “I wouldn’t change a thing.” Jesus lived the most blessed life because it consisted of giving. He was contented, though He owned nothing.
He knew peace beyond any man and joy that surpassed our imagination. We sustain ourselves with food, He sustained Himself by doing His Father’s will. He knew the blessedness of life. His life was and is the blessedness that we so desperately long for. He is the blessedness of Life.
“My purpose is that you may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that you may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that you may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:2,3
Have a God blessed week!
Pastor Jim
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