Friday, April 9, 2021 What Does “Blessed” Really Mean? LISTEN   “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” —Luke 12:32 When I’m with my grandchildren, I love to do things for them. I like taking them out for ice cream or buying a little toy for each of them. In the same way, God loves to bless us, and He wants to bless us. Isn’t that a great thing to know? Jesus said,  “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32 NKJV). However, we throw the word blessing around a lot. We might say, “You’re such a blessing” or “Wasn’t that a blessing”? Sometimes we even use it to end a conversation that has gone too long, as in, “Okay, I’ve got to go. God bless you!” Even our secular culture may try to hijack the word, but non-Christians really have no idea of what it means. It’s something that only the child of God can experience, because blessing is a spiritual word. It’s worth noting that Jesus loved to bless people. Even the beautiful Beatitudes, part of His Sermon on the Mount, begin with the word blessed. We sometimes describe these statements of Jesus as the “be happy attitudes” because another way to translate blessed is “happy,” which comes from the Greek word makários. God wants you to be blessed and happy. In the opening chapter of Genesis, we read that God created man in His own image. And the next verse begins,  “Then God blessed them . . .” (Genesis 1:28 NKJV). This blessing that God gives to us is something He wants us to experience. It’s also independent of our circumstances. You might be going through a time of struggle, but you still can be happy.  It isn’t about where you are geographically; it’s about where you are spiritually.  It isn’t about what you have; it’s about the One you know. Share this today:     Billy Graham: The Man I Knew Receive a copy for your gift of support today » Pastor Greg Laurie's new book, Billy Graham the Man I Knew, takes an in-depth look at his relationship with the great man while revealing the human side of Graham and his impact in history. Receive a copy with your donation.

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