Want to be Blessed?

I often sign my comments or my emails with "Blessings!"
Part of my blog title is "Blessed". I pronounce it "bless-ed" rather than "blest" *that is just fyi*
I was noticing tonight in Luke's version of the sermon on the mount (chapter 6) the "blessings" pronounced by Jesus.

Have you ever looked at it like this?
Blessed are you...

• who are poor...
• who hunger now...
• who weep now...
• when men hate you...
• when they exclude you...
• when they insult you...
• when they reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man.

Jesus says, "For you will receive the kingdom of God, you will be satisfied, you will laugh...rejoice in that day and leap for joy because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets."

Then He says,
Woe to you...

• who are rich...
• who are well fed now...
• who laugh now...
• when men speak well of you now...

"You have already received your comfort, you will go hungry, you will mourn and weep...and if you are praised by man now... that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.

It reminds me of the "Hall of Faith" in Hebrews 11...Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Samson, David, Samuel, and the prophets..."Instead they were longing for a better country-a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." Hebrews 11:16

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17

It is a simple decision...take our good things in this life...or in the next. Live our life for ourself here...or for Jesus' Eternal Kingdom.

Still want to be blessed? We cannot  fathom what awaits us in the Eternal Glorious Kingdom, but we know it is worth receiving the blessings we get here!

Hold fast! Look up! Keep going! Stand firm!