Who are the blessed? The Christian will answer quickly, “All are blessed.” And that is certainly true. Physically we are all blessed by the hand of God. Jesus said, “He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5.45). The Psalmist penned by inspiration the beautiful truth that God, “…covers the heavens with clouds, …prepares rain for the earth,…makes grass to grow on the mountains. He gives to the beast its food, And to the young ravens that cry” (Psalm 147.7-9).
And although we acknowledge this verbally far too often we live a completely contradictory way. We live in depression, jealousy, envy, strife and anger, ungrateful, unthankful, and disrespectful. Shame on us when we live fifty weeks a year as spoiled children and only stop to be thankful for all we do have for the seven to fourteen days surrounding the Thanksgiving holiday each year.
Who are the blessed? I firmly and unequivocally declare that the Bible, in the clearest of terms, says that only those who are obedient and faithful children of God are blessed spiritually. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1.3). That’s right! Only those who are in Christ can be blessed by God spiritually and to be in Christ the Bible again clearly states that we must hear the Word of God (Romans 10.17); we must believe that Jesus Christ is His only begotten Son (Mark 16.16); we must be willing to repent of our sins (Acts 17.30); We must be willing to confess our faith in Him (Matthew 10.32-33); and we must be buried with Him in baptism for the remission of our sin (Acts 2.38). At this point we are added to His body the church (Acts 2.47; Colossians 1.13) and find ourselves in Christ (Galatians 3.27).
But not everyone who complies with these inspired prerequisites will continue to find themselves blessed spiritually. Generally speaking the Palmist again wrote, “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD!” (Psalm 119.1). We are well aware that Jesus spoke of the blessed as those who are poor in spirit, who mourn, who are meek, who hunger and thirst for righteousness, who are merciful, who are pure in heart, who are peacemakers, and who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. You see how spiritual blessings do not rest solely on adhering to the steps of salvations but are reserved for those who walk in the light (1 John 1.7) and love Him enough to keep His commandments (John 14.15).
There are two other groups that the Bible says are blessed. The first group we read about in Luke 12.37-38 where Jesus says, “Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.” Are you watching, waiting, thankful, every minute of every day? Are you ready? The second group is describe for us in Revelation 14.13, “Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” Oh, how I long to be blessed! Be faithful!