DON'T BE BLIND TO THE BLESSING
I am a father of four, all of whom are married and have children of their own. Whenever my children face any kind of difficulty, I do not get angry at them. On the contrary, I am delighted when they call on me. Whether I can help them by providing prayer, counseling or financial blessings, I take great pleasure in reaching out to them and blessing them.
How much more does our Lord Jesus delight in blessing His children in their time of need? He tells us, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:11).
You may look around the body of Christ and see other Christians who seem more talented and blessed. Some can memorize and quote whole passages of Scripture. Others can preach, teach or sing to God's glory. You say to yourself, "How blessed they are by God. But, poor me! I am not smart enough to memorize God's Word. I can't even remember a sermon. I don't have the gifts my brothers and sisters have to serve God."
Beloved, you do not know how blessed you are. Are you poor in spirit? Is it difficult for you even to smile? Do you lament over seeing no spiritual growth in your life? Do you grieve because you feel inadequate, left out, unneeded?
Jesus says, "You are blessed. You have nothing to be proud about and in that way, you serve Me best — because My strength rests in your weakness! I can use you more readily than all others." Jesus said to the apostle Paul, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
What a blessing! Jesus never said, "Blessed are the strong, the happy, the self-sufficient, the forceful." No! Our Lord blessed the weak, the reviled, the persecuted, the downcast, those who are considered nothing in the eyes of others. He is saying to you, "You know you have great need of Me — and therefore you are blessed!"
How much more does our Lord Jesus delight in blessing His children in their time of need? He tells us, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:11).
You may look around the body of Christ and see other Christians who seem more talented and blessed. Some can memorize and quote whole passages of Scripture. Others can preach, teach or sing to God's glory. You say to yourself, "How blessed they are by God. But, poor me! I am not smart enough to memorize God's Word. I can't even remember a sermon. I don't have the gifts my brothers and sisters have to serve God."
Beloved, you do not know how blessed you are. Are you poor in spirit? Is it difficult for you even to smile? Do you lament over seeing no spiritual growth in your life? Do you grieve because you feel inadequate, left out, unneeded?
Jesus says, "You are blessed. You have nothing to be proud about and in that way, you serve Me best — because My strength rests in your weakness! I can use you more readily than all others." Jesus said to the apostle Paul, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
What a blessing! Jesus never said, "Blessed are the strong, the happy, the self-sufficient, the forceful." No! Our Lord blessed the weak, the reviled, the persecuted, the downcast, those who are considered nothing in the eyes of others. He is saying to you, "You know you have great need of Me — and therefore you are blessed!"