Happy New Year
Happy New Year! Happy New Decade!
At this time of the year I look back and look forward. Looking back, I can sum up 2019 in two words: ‘slipped disc’. This unfortunate mishap occurred for me at Easter and drastically affected the rest of the year. The recovery is slow, but I am forever grateful to my family, my friends and my church for all the love, care and support over this period!
As I look ahead to 2020, I have been thinking about ‘God’s blessing’. Of course, I want to be blessed by God and pray that for everyone else too! But what does God’s blessing look like? Is it wealth, prosperity, comfort and success...maybe?
In the Bible, Jesus’ first ever ‘sermon’ is recorded in the book of Matthew in chapters 5-7, and in it He spoke about God’s perspective on blessing. Jesus said...
“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.”
Right at the start of this new year, I do have a sense that God is highlighting these ‘blessings’ for me, and may be for you too? I believe He is reminding us that if want His blessing then it may not come as we expect, but in way like Jesus described in these verses.
May 2020 be a year full of God’s blessings!
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader