OUR BLESSEDNESS

Psalm 1:1-2 - "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful: but his delight is in the law of the Lord."

Our Lord Jesus Christ lived inside the City of Blessedness. Matthew 5:1-12  reveals to all men the eight gates by which that City may be entered. For us , we might not go in by the Gate of Poverty of spirit, for we are not humble enough; nor by the Gate of the Mourners, for we are not grieved enough for our own sins or the sins of others; nor by the Gate of the Meek, for we often resent injury; nor by the Gates of Mercy, or Purity, or Peace. But we may claim to enter by the fourth Gate, for we Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness. And as we go in, we find ourselves inside the City, and in the company of all holy souls that have entered by the other gates. For in the Heavenly City, to enter by any gate is equivalent to having entered by all; and one grace which is in process and perfected by the Holy Spirit will ultimately lead on to all the rest.

What is Blessedness then?  According to our Lord's teaching, it is a condition or state of heart. Outward circumstances are not mentioned, unless it be shame and persecution, as though they were matters of indifference. Blessedness is altogether independent of our outward appearance, whether prosperous or perplexed, rich or poor. Blessedness begins and ends with a contented recognition of the Royalty of Christ's Kingdom and reign is us; in the power of seeing the good in everything, and so inheriting the earth; in being satisfied, in obtaining mercy, in seeing God and being called us  His sons and daughters. Is it not worth while to strive to enter in at these wide-open doors? And if you can say that you really do yearn after better things, hungering and thirsting for more likeness to Christ, and more fitness for His Kingdom; if that desire really represents the purpose of your life, you may account yourself as being already admitted within the Gates of the Blessed Life.

We must not suppose that Our Lord allocated the award of Blessedness to the possessors of certain attributes with an arbitrary and royal prerogative. He simply declared what was true in the very nature of things. To be true, pure, merciful, and meek, is to have in your possession the seed of the harvest of Blessedness. If you turn from this wonderful enumeration of Christian qualities as specified by Paul in Galatians 5:22 -( But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness..) then you will find all of them set forth in the list of the fruit of the Spirit. May He work in us and through us a well-balanced and full-robed Christian character.

Lord, take our lips, and speak through them; take our minds, and think through them; take our hearts, and set them on fire to keep on falling in love you.

In your Presence and Guidance we follow Thee,
Taniela Fonua (Lapaifonua)