Blessings

MIF 20:3 (May-June 1988)


Blessings


Arthur F. Wilder


“Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in His commandments” (Psalm 112:1).


The blessings recorded in the Bible all have a positive tone, referring usually to some good condition with a favorable consequence. A divine blessing is a sign of God’s mercy and grace.


Blessings take various forms. There are the spiritual blessings we enjoy when in communion with God. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). Every child of God is heir to these blessings.


Many blessings are accompanied by promises, such as the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, where the blessed person is a happy person because he has the assurance of a heavenly reward.


There are natural blessings for all men to enjoy: the miracle of life itself and the beauty of the natural world around us. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handiwork” (Psalm 19:1).


The temporal blessings are those which sustain us: good physical health and strength, food, raiment, shelter, etc. These are visible blessings; they are to be used for God’s glory and not to satisfy lusts.


All spiritual and temporal blessings are from God’s bountiful hands and are bestowed on His redeemed people in a personal way. “The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing” (Psalm 34:10).