You're Blessed

Matthew 5:3-12

You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope.  With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you.  Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

You're blessed when you're content with just who you are- no more, no less.  That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God.  He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.

You're blessed when you care.  At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.

You're blessed when you get your inside world- your mind and heart- put right.  Then you can see God in the outside world.

You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight.  That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution.  The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.

Not only that- count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me.  what it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable.  You can be glad when that happens- give a cheer, even!- for though they don't like it, I do!  And all heaven applauds.  And know that you are in good company.  My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

So, I was doing my devotions tonight, and to be honest, this is the first time I've done them in a very long time. But I feel like my relationship with Jesus is lacking..more like we're just aquaintances instead of best friends, which is what I long for. So I'm doing my best to just dive into Him, and learn all that I possibly can. 

Anyways...

As I was reading, I came across a set of verses that were familiar to me from years of Sunday School and youth groups... found in Colossian 1:19-20:

From beginning to end he's there, towering far above everything, everyone.  So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding.  Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe- people and things, animals and atoms- get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross.

What really gets me is where is says that all the brokenness in this world, every broken person, every broken situation, everything fits together in "vibrant harmonies."  That phrase alone is enough to give chills. 

I think it's time to stop looking at things in our world as permanently damaged, broken, or messed up. It says that these things are properly fixed and fit together.  We so often read of doing the right things, and loving unconditionally, and doing simple acts of kindness.... well, I think it's about time we stop reading and thinking about these things, and time we start actually doing them. It says later in Colossians 2:6-7:

My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given.  You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him.  You're deeply rooted in him.  You're well constructed upon him.  You know your way around the faith.  Now do what you've been taught.  School's out; quit studying the subject and start  living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.

My goal this week is to live Christ's love out.  To see things in the eyes of my Father.