One of the foundational stories of the Bible is when God says to Abraham, “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you . . . so that you will be a blessing . . . and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” [Genesis 12:2-3]

What does it mean to be blessed by God? People often think that being blessed means having a lot of good things. But Abraham would encounter numerous trials as he followed God, and the ultimate Biblical story of a blessed life—the story of Jesus—is a story of hardship and persecution. Blessing must mean something other than enjoying ease and plenty.

The prophet Jeremiah described the blessed life in these terms: “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is in the Lord. They are like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream, having no fear when heat comes, being not anxious in a drought; but its leaves stay green and it does not cease to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

In other words, to be blessed is to be spiritually connected with God, so that no matter what trials may come—“heat or drought”—we are sustained by the waters of God’s grace.

Along this line, the story of Abraham illustrates several key truths about blessing:

• Blessing comes from God, as God acts to bless us
• Blessing is a gift of God, which we can receive though we have not earned it
• Blessing is received by us in faith
• The primary result of God’s blessing is that we can live in fellowship with God
• The further result of God’s blessing is that we become connected with God’s purpose
• The final result of God’s blessing is that we become a blessing for others

The blessed life is thus quite different from what our culture images as the “happy” or “successful” life—which is generally imagined in very self-centered terms. The blessed life is God-centered—orientated toward God’s purposes and God’s concern for all humanity.

And this is why the blessed life is often not easy. As Abraham followed God’s call, or as the disciples followed Jesus, they headed out into very difficult journeys. Yet in the end, a life in God’s blessing is a life of real meaning, and deep and lasting joy.

The Scriptures invite us into that life, where we become like the tree of Jeremiah—planted by the water, sending out the roots of faith, drawing in the waters of God’s endless blessing.

Sunday’s Scripture Readings:
Genesis 12:1–3
Jeremiah 17:7–8
Luke 6:20–23

Related posts:

Blessed Are the Lowly Blessed by God The Meek Inherit the Earth Blessed Is the Nation Whose God is the Lord