QUALIFICATION FOR BLESSEDNESS

QUALIFICATION FOR BLESSEDNESS

Thursday, August 23, 2018

Romans [MKJV] 12:1-3 I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to every one who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think. But set your mind to be right-minded, even as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.

  Trusting Jesus as Redeemer we are given power to be the sons and daughters of God. “But as many as received Him, He gave to them authority to become the children of God, to those who believe on His name, who were born, not of bloods, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but were born of God.” (Jn.1:12)

  Qualifying for blessedness beyond salvation deliverance is a separate area. This we know from reading about unforgiveness begetting unforgiveness (Mt.6:12-15; 18:35; Mk.11:25-26; Lk.6:37) and God resisting resisters (1Pet.5:5). To help understand this Pastor Paul challenged us to read Psalm 145. I’m certain he wants more than reading, but is praying and hoping for Romans 12:1-3 changes in thought, decidedness and resultant deeds.

Psalm 145:1 I will lift You up, my God, O King; and I will bless Your name forever and ever.

2 Every day I will bless You; and I will praise Your name forever and ever.

3  Great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised; and there is no searching out His greatness.

4  One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.

5  I will speak of the glorious honor of Your majesty, and of Your wonderful works.

6  And men shall speak of the might of Your awesome works; and I will declare Your greatness.

7  They shall pour forth the memory of Your great goodness, and shall sing of Your righteousness.

8  Jehovah is gracious and full of pity; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

9  Jehovah is good to all; and His tender mercies are over all His works.

10  All Your works shall praise You, O Jehovah; and Your saints shall bless You.

11  They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and talk of Your power,

12  to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom.

13  Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your rule endures throughout all generations.

14  Jehovah upholds all who fall, and raises up all those bowed down.

15  The eyes of all wait on You; and You give them their food in due season.

16  You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

17  Jehovah is righteous in all His ways and holy in all His works.

18  Jehovah is near all those who call on Him, all those who call on Him in truth [‘emeth].

19  He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry, and will save them.

20  Jehovah watches over all those who love Him; but all the wicked He will destroy.

21  My mouth shall speak the praise of Jehovah; and let all flesh bless His holy name forever and ever.

  This is a wonderful Psalm about God blessing His family. However, in verse 18 I noticed a requirement: Examining the word “truth” I discovered Hebrew ‘emeth means to be firm in living continually in stable reliability in testimony and judgments (decision making) according to divine instruction.

  Thinking on this truth about truth, my mind shifted to the fact that Jesus was constantly referring to and explaining the Old Testament. When He said know the truth and it will set you free (Jn.8:32), was he including Psalm 145? I say definitely.

  Deciding that blessedness is never to be the goal, but is outcome of pleasing God, I see I need to put more surrender into reliability and decision making according to God’s Truth.  EBB4