Blessings

Blessed is a Christian word. It is a spiritual word. It is a Biblical word. It is from the Greek word “makarios,’ meaning “blessed, happy¹“. Jesus both began² and concluded³ His earthly ministry blessing people.

In the Sermon on the Mount⁴, Jesus repeatedly uses the word ‘blessed.’ As an aside, the Greeks thought the Island of Cyprus was “makarios”, by calling it ‘the happy isle.’ Being in Christ Jesus, we are continually makarios, blessed.

The Love of God

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.

1 John 5:1-2 ESV

We are to love our brothers and sisters because our Father loves them. Verse three of 1^st John tells us precisely what our love of God should be: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.”

Picking and choosing who we will love within God’s family isn’t allowed, but this normally won’t be a problem since Jesus is alive within us. Certainly, a brother or sister’s political views should not affect our love for him or her, especially in light of Jesus’ statement, “But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!⁵” If we must love our enemies, how much easier it should be to love our brothers and sisters! After all, God has blessed each of His children. Likewise, as obedient children of God, we should, too.

Make Me a Blessing

You may remember the hymn “Make Me a Blessing” by Ira B. Wilson.

Refrain:
Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing.
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray.
Make me a blessing to someone today.

Make Me a Blessing. (n.d.). Hymnary.Org. Retrieved September 7, 2024, from https://hymnary.org/text/out_in_the_highways_and_byways_of_life

When we allow Jesus to shine through us, our hearts are full. So, let’s be a blessing, first to God’s children⁶ and then to all of His creation!

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Footnotes

1. Strong’s Greek: 3107. μακάριος (makarios) — blessed, happy. (n.d.). Biblehub.Com. Retrieved September 6, 2024, from https://biblehub.com/greek/3107.htm ↩︎
2. Bible Gateway passage: Matthew 5:1-3 – English Standard Version. (n.d.). Bible Gateway. Retrieved September 6, 2024, from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205%3A1-3&version=ESV ↩︎
3. Bible Gateway passage: Luke 24:51 – King James Version. (n.d.). Bible Gateway. Retrieved September 6, 2024, from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2024%3A51&version=KJV ↩︎
4. Bible Gateway passage: Matthew 5 – King James Version. (n.d.). Bible Gateway. Retrieved September 6, 2024, from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205&version=KJV ↩︎
5. Matthew 5:44 – Love Your Enemies. (n.d.). Bible Hub. Retrieved September 22, 2024, from https://biblehub.com/matthew/5-44.htm ↩︎
6. Galatians 6:10 – Carry One Another’s Burdens. (n.d.). Bible Hub. Retrieved September 7, 2024, from https://biblehub.com/galatians/6-10.htm ↩︎