Christ and His blessings

Mat 5:2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: Mat 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Mat 5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Mat 5:5 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Mat 5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Mat 5:7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Mat 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Mat 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Mat 5:10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

1Pe 1:6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 1Pe 1:7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.


1Pe 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 1Pe 4:13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 1Pe 4:14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.


Do you see a pattern here? When you hear the word "blessings of God" what do you think of? I know alot of people in many of our American churches think; wealth, health, life of ease, happiness, nice relationships. We obtain those things and we think, "Oh how blessed I am!" God can bless us in these things, I think most of the time He doesn't though. What is God's goal in our lives? For us to be happy? I Think He is more interested in us being conformed into the image of His Son. Does money help us to do that? Most of us would have to honestly answer, "no". Do trials? Most definitely!

Rom 5:3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, Rom 5:4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, Rom 5:5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

So what do we see as true "blessing" from God? Money or Trials ( sufferings) Which conforms us into the image of His Son?

This might help you to look at your trials differantly. Not that they are fun, but when we know the purpose we can appreciate what the outcome will be, and then we can see them as blessings.

Christ- God as Servant

How Big is our God?

Isa 40:12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?

Isa 48:13 My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand forth together.

 

Col 1:16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

What did Christ do?

Php 2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, Php 2:6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, Php 2:7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. Php 2:8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

How did he demonstrate this?

Joh 13:3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, Joh 13:4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Joh 13:5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

The God that holds the stars in his hands became a man, served those who hated him and washed their feet. Ponder this for a moment, I know many people are familiar with the story. Really think about what this means. How does this effect how you look at God? Our God is high and HOLY, perfect and mighty, full of purity and the ruler of all, King of kings and Lord of lords, holds every cell in is hands and is sovereign over all. He has every right to demand anything and everything of us, yet he serves us. US! Filthy, unclean man. We spit in his face, drove the nail into his hands, mocked him, and he humbles himself before us? This is our God, how beautiful he is. When you pray to him today, thank him for what he has done, for who he is.

And even more than washing our feet-

Isa 53:1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? Isa 53:2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. Isa 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Isa 53:4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. Isa 53:8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? Isa 53:9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Isa 53:10 Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Isa 53:11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Isa 53:12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.


Thank you Jesus, thank you for the cross, beautiful Savior.