When I was younger I prayed that God would bless me. The image in my head when I thought about these blessings was good things happening to me, or material things coming my way.
PICTURE: Sixteen Miles Out/Unsplash
Blessings were certainly things like health, wealth, comfort, confidence, good relationships and success.
Now there are lots of Scriptures that picture blessings from God that way.
Yet one day I read the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes, and I was struck to the heart.
When Jesus – God’s trustiest revelation of Himself – declared blessings, they were poverty of spirit. Mourning. Thirsting for righteousness.
These were not things I would immediately cry out for from God. Persecution for righteousness sake?
Wow. Perhaps there are the blessing of God, and the blessings of God.
Are you ready for God’s blessings?
Paul Clark’s musings can be heard on radio across Australia and at atthetop.org.au.
