Advent Day 18: Blessed is She...

These pictures are from a trip we took 3 years ago to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, near Telluride, Colorado.  The first time I saw the view in the top photo, I lost my breath because of its beauty.  As I took the shot, I noticed this woman  down at the very edge of the chasm, arms raised in worship.  I could certainly understand her reaction that day.

Traditionally, arms are raised to worship God and also to deliver or pronounce a blessing on loved ones. 

"Blessed", "bless", "bless it", "bless you" - - - even that old Southern staple "Bless her heart!"  These are, for the most part so overused they have moved into the realm of meaninglessness.  In fact, the New York Times wrote an article 3 or so years ago, proclaiming that the hashtag #blessed had gone viral on social media! But, what is meant by these terms?  How are they used in Scripture?

Let's look again at the two women in Luke 1:41-48 - - - Elizabeth and Mary. 

...and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.42In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Mary’s Song

46And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord

47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48for he has been mindful

of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

49for the Mighty One has done great things for me—

holy is his name.

Both of them claimed to be "blessed by God".  What does that mean, in their contexts, and in ours?

When Luke interviewed Elizabeth for his gospel, she reported to him that she had called Mary "blessed" (vs. 42).  This particular form of the Greek word used for "blessed" here is "eulogemene", which means "to be well-spoken of by another". You might recognize that our English word "eulogy" derives from this same Greek word.  The dictionary defines "blessed" as "divinely favored" or "consecrated".  "Consecrated" means "designated for a holy purpose".

So, Elizabeth and Mary were both proclaiming that God had favored them by fulfilling His holy purposes through them.  

They were both ordinary women of the day who loved God.  They were not rich or prominent.  They were typical, godly Jewish women - - - one in middle age or later, and the other in her early teens.

Do you realize that, if you are a Christian, a disciple of Jesus Christ, then you too are blessed? 

"But I don't feel blessed", you say.

Sometimes, our feelings or our circumstances can lead us into unbelief, error...a pit.  Let's look at the truth, presented in Scripture.

• We are blessed with salvation through Jesus Christ.
• We are blessed with the indwelling in our hearts of the Holy Spirit.
• We are blessed with purpose, God's calling to each of us, according to the unique spiritual gifts and talents He has given us. "Consecration"
• We are blessed with everything we need.  (I didn't say "want"; God is not Santa Claus.)
• We are blessed with the many promises of God.  

Elizabeth made the following statement to Mary:
"Blessed is she who has believed the Lord would fulfill His promises to her." (vs. 45)

Listen to this powerful truth:  the promises of God transcend current circumstances and feelings.
Faith.  Belief.  Trust.  Rest.  Do you struggle with believing the promises of God?  Do you really believe that He is good....all the time?  Do you believe that He is at work behind the scenes, even when you can't see it?

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28 (NASB)

Oh Blessed One!  Oh Child, consecrated, "called according to His purpose"!
Maybe, like me, you need to remind yourself of God's precious promises to you.  Here is a link that may bring you comfort today.  Go here and read about just a few of His many precious promises to His children.

http://www.intouch.org/you/article-archive/content/topic/god_s_precious_promises_article#.VJQIH8AAJA

Let's agree together this morning, this day, that our God is greater than all our blind stumbling around in the dark, our frantic groping for peace in the midst of severe pain.  Let's affirm that He will be faithful - - - that He who called you out of the pit of sin and eternal damnation LOVES YOU and WILL keep His promises to you. Let's hold on with everything we've got to the beautiful truth - - - that He does not change.  His word is eternal. 

Fellow Believers - - - we don't have to "feel it" to believe it!

Ah Lord God!  I declare that You are the Most High, the God of Angel Armies, and that what you promise, you will do.  Just as you fulfilled Your promise of a Messiah, prophesied in Genesis, through Isaiah, Micah, Zechariah and elsewhere, you will fulfill your promises to Your children. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I will praise You! (Psalm 63:3)  In Jesus' name, that Name which is above every name, that Name at which every knee will eventually bow, amen.

Financial Security

What I have on my mind this morning is...taxes.  Yes, April 15 looms, and my preparations are not made.  Over the past three days I've been piddling around, trying to get ready to submit my records to good 'ole Uncle Sam.  What a chore!  I think that my #1 issue for a presidential candidate at the moment is a flat or a fair tax....

At any rate, I thought I'd poke around to see what the Bible says about money, and it says a LOT - - - enough for a series of blog posts.  But, I shall refrain.  These verses were the first to draw my attention.

10 

The one who loves money will never be satisfied with money,

he who loves wealth will never be satisfied with his income.

This also is futile.

11 

When someone’s prosperity increases, those who consume it also increase;

so what does its owner gain, except that he gets to see it with his eyes?

12 

The sleep of the laborer is pleasant—whether he eats little or much—

but the wealth of the rich will not allow him to sleep.

Ecclesiastes 5:10-12

I don't have trouble sleeping, although compared to the wealth of the rest of the world even an average American like me is in "the 1%" - - - the top 1% of wealthiest people in the world.

King Solomon, who accumulated more wealth than practically any of us will ever see, testified that it was distinctly unsatisfying.  These verses are part of a long recitation of things in life that are "vanity" or "futile" or "meaningless", depending on your translation.  He warns us, in verse 10, against making money an idol, as those who do can "never have enough".

It is easy to say, "Well, I don't do THAT."  But, how about looking to money for your security?  This, too, is idolatry.  I'm not talking about sensible saving, investing, etc.  However, anyone who has ever "lost it all" in a quick series of market tumbles or bad investments understands that the "security" provided by money is an illusion.

Unbelievers have no security, because it begins and ends in Jesus Christ.  As Christians, our steadfast assurance and eternal hope are in Him.  As the hymn says, "Our hope is built in nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness."

"Nothing less"...I can testify that I have made some bad choices over the course of my life in regard to money, and many of them have to do with "playing it safe", depending on my own efforts to ensure my financial security.  This is a deception.  We are the most safe and secure when we have firmly anchored our soul to Jesus and are walking obediently in His will, whether that looks "safe" or "sensible" to the outside world or not.

Here's a good habit to form, and one at which I want to get better.  Before making a major purchase, I want to ask myself:  "Is this what He would want me to spend His gifts on?"  "Is this going to expand His kingdom?  Will it increase the glory I'm able to reflect back to Him?"  These are key questions, sobering ones.  I am firmly convinced many of us (myself included) will be called on to answer for whether or not we did as He wanted with the financial gifts we were given.

So, now I've got to get back to the business today of "counting beans".  (How some of my family members do this for a living, I'll never know....That's why there are different gifts and talents for each of us.)  As I've been doing this over the past few days, I've been able to look back over 2015 and realize how I spent my time (calculating mileage) and my financial resources as well.  I've been able to reflect on the abundant blessings (financial and otherwise) God has given me, as He is the source of all good things.  It has produced thankfulness and humility in my soul, as well as a renewed resolve to be used even more by Him as 2016 moves on.

Father, teach us, Your children, that our firm foundation is only in You, that You are not only the Source of All Blessing, but You are also our only security.  Please don't let our wealth become a curse or an idol, but instead, may it be used to spread the gospel throughout all the world.  In Jesus' name, amen.