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Enjoy Life, Enjoy God


Dale Patterson

BLESSED 2012

November 28, 2012

In some of Jesus' first teaching he tells us about the path to blessing, and in doing so, defines "blessed."

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs in the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are the persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you people.
--Matthew 5:3-12 TNIV

When I ponder the blessings that we desire from God, I wonder if the above list are what we had in mind in 2012. We want security, health, safety, prosperity--all good things, but note how such are all absent from Jesus' list of blessings.

To be "blessed" as Jesus puts it here...these are very different blessings than we've grown accustomed. Yet in Jesus' list of "blessed," The Beatitudes, herein is the kingdom of heaven, herein is discipleship.

Joyfully,

Dale Patterson