From the dawn of creation to this very moment, Scripture reveals God's gracious blessings as a reality woven through all human history. He is the kind hand that sustains every life through His common grace, sending rain on the just and the unjust alike (Matthew 5:45, NASB). Though often unseen, this care awakens hearts to love, provides for our daily needs, and draws every soul toward the incomparable spiritual blessings found only in Christ Jesus. As the Apostle Paul exults:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3, NASB). A true blessing is God's sovereign favor—in providence or eternal salvation—never luck or merit, but unmerited kindness from our Creator. The ancient blessing found in Old Testament reflects His loving heart:
The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26, NASB).
By contrast, a miracle is a divine sign—a wonder or mighty power—pointing to Jesus and kindling faith where Gods blessings reign:
Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:30-31, NASB).
From Moses' rod turning to a serpent (Exodus 4:2-5) to the empty tomb, these acts exalt Christ and come from the Giver of every perfect gift (James 1:17), Gods blessings. May they always lead us to Him.
Consider the Lord's Prayer and its simple plea:
Give us this day our daily bread (Matthew 6:11, NASB).
This unlocks presence, peace, love, and joy through surrendered trust. God delights to bless abundantly (Ephesians 3:20), yet remember this, true blessing flows to hearts aligned in faith and loving obedience to God (John 14:15). Rest assured, dear friends, He longs to bless us fully—yet we must never take it for granted. For example, have you ever thought how God blesses those who love and honor Him, in return, will not just bless His person but even His possessions? (Deuteronomy 29) I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandal has not worn out on your foot. God blesses all beyond measure, only to those who know and call upon His Holy Name will be saved.
Deuteronomy 28 shows the covenant blessings promised to Israel under the Mosaic Law:
Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the Lord your God... all these blessings will come upon you and overtake you... Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country... The Lord will command the blessing upon you in your barns (Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 5, 8, NASB).
Disobedience brought curses (Deuteronomy 28:15ff). But thanks be to God, Christ has redeemed us from that curse:
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”— in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith (Galatians 3:13-14, NASB).
Willful sin will break our fellowship with Him, but the Savior always welcomes prodigals home, just like the father running to his lost son (Luke 15:20).
In todays scripture reading of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5), our Lord unveils the true ethics of the kingdom of heaven—one of His most treasured teachings. The Evangelist records:
He opened his mouth and began to teach them (Matthew 5:2, NASB).
This phrase carries the weight of divine authority, like unveiling wisdom from heaven itself.
Jesus begins with the Beatitudes, declaring God's deep, spiritual blessing—true happiness—on those transformed by grace. These are not just good advice but pictures of the new heart in Christ, reflecting His own character:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3-10, NASB).
Here, those poor in spirit already possess the kingdom. Godly mourning brings heavenly comfort. The gentle—meek strength yielded to God—will inherit the renewed earth. Hunger for righteousness finds full satisfaction in Christ. Mercy shown receives mercy. Pure hearts behold God. Peacemakers prove they are God's children. Persecution confirms citizenship in His kingdom. Its not when we are strong where we find Gods blessings, its in our times of weakness, times of distress, times of when we are the least in a world so far from God that we eagerly know God’s return is paramount—it is at hand!
In his book Pure Pleasure, Gary Thomas reminds us that the Heavenly Father we meet in and through Jesus Christ loves to give his children gifts.
Once, while walking through a McDonald's restaurant, I saw eight ten-year-old girls celebrating a birthday. The warmth of sheer, unadulterated happiness permeated the gathering.
It was as if a light had been turned on and I could see God's delight. God felt happy that these girls were happy. Their delight, their joy, even their giddiness, gave God great pleasure. Have you ever thought about that—that you can give God great pleasure by enjoying yourself?
If you're a parent, imagine Christmas morning as the young kids tear into presents. Does anything make you happier? Don't moments like these break into the dull routines of life and give us a glimpse of heaven?
The fact that we are children of God—and that Jesus urges us to become like children—speaks of a certain demeanor, a certain delight, a certain trust in God's goodness and favor toward us. While God's servants are not merely his children (he also calls us to sacrificial and mature service), we never become less than his children.
I wish I can tell you today that even with God’s blessings, we will not experience no more pain, suffering or calamity. It is in fact that Christ came to save us from what sin has instilled in our lives, and while we patiently wait for His return, our reward to be with Him forever in paradise, is a true marker that while we are a sinful people, God still desires and gives us His blessings even when we do not deserve it.
While we read and hear Gods message with the sermon on the mount, we must remember, like the prodigal son who sinfully squanders his life with wild living, his father welcomed him back with open arms.
John Newton (1725–1807), a blasphemous slave-trader, cried to God amid a 1748 ship storm, echoing "chief of sinners" (1 Tim. 1:15). Spared, he repented, renounced slavery, pastored fruitfully, wrote *Amazing Grace* ("saved a wretch like me"), and aided Wilberforce's reforms. His words: "I am a great sinner, but Christ is a great Savior" (Eph. 2:8-9). A testament to unmerited grace. God’s blessings.
No matter how deep you think you are in sin, rebellion or disobedience, God blessings can deliver you when we return to Him. I’ll leave you with James 4 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. You cannot expect blessings from God when our hearts are far from Him. Amen.