I AM BLESSED!

August 2014

I AM BLESSED!  Yes, indeed I am.  I am grateful that Yahweh has bestowed on me the Blessings of Sunshine, as well as the Blessings of Rain.  The Blessings of Day, as well as the Blessings of Night.  The Blessings of Rest, as well as the Blessings of Work.  The Blessings of Summer, as well as the Blessings of Winter.  The Blessings of Receiving, as well as the Blessings of Giving…

In our covetous hearts (and perhaps even corrupted hearts), whenever we refer to blessings, we are just thinking about the “good stuff”.  We are thinking about wealth… health… prosperity… promotion… enjoyment… easy life… material possessions… Faulty theology, inadequate preaching, and our own natural inclination (old nature) have indoctrinated us to such follies!

When we read the Word of God, we often gravitate towards the promises while overlooking the commandments.  And even so, when we look at the blessings, we fail to see full spectrum of blessings from God’s perspective.  Considers these Scriptures:

Blessed are the poor in spirit… Blessed are those who mourn…

Matthew 5:3-4

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness…

Matthew 5:10

Blessed are you when people insult you… falsely say all kinds of evil against you

Matthew 5:11

It is more blessed to give than to receive…

Acts 20:35

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trials…

James 1:12

We need to re-think and re-orientate our understanding about blessings.  Otherwise, the Blessings of Sunshine may become a snare to us; because we do not know how to live in times of the Blessings of Night…  If not, the Blessings of Rest may make us slothful, and we complain when the Blessings of Work come upon us…

IMPORTANT NOTES ON THE CLICHÉ SERIES:

There are just too many nice sentimental clichés out there!  We like to share them and/or repost them.  Many clichés give people a pseudo feel good fix.  Some like to use clichés as victory chants or inspirational slogans in various circumstances in their lives.  I call these “FEEL-GOOD-CLICHÉS”…

Feel-Good-Clichés always sound good.  Almost everybody likes them because they make us feel good.  But often, they merely present a one-sided truth; which sentimentally, simplistically and shallowly “encourage” us.

I do not quite like Feel-Good-Clichés.  With enough repetition, such clichés often (erroneously) evolve to become principles, or even Bible Doctrines.  But they are not!  On the other hand, some clichés may even contradict the Word of God.

So, I am making special effort to write and compose sayings that will be more Biblical, more balanced and more accurate.  And, I am also making effort to “critique” some popular clichés.  If the Lord so lead you, I would like to enlist your help to rectify our addiction to simplistic positive thinking.  Share, repost, and promote the poster above.  Thank you!