One Reason Christians Are Blessed

John 20:29 - Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."  NIV 

• We Believe And Yet We Have Never Seen Him 

Jesus was engaged in a conversation with Thomas. Thomas is the disciple, who said, "Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."
 
Jesus appears eight days later to Thomas and the other disciples. Thomas sees Jesus and confesses that he believes that Jesus is his Lord and God.
 
Jesus tells Thomas that he has seen Him and now believes in Him, but there is going to be a day coming when people will believe in Him because of what they have heard and not because they were able to see Jesus like Thomas. 

• What Does It Mean To Be Blessed? 

The Greek word that is used for "blessed" means to be fortunate, well off, or
supremely blest. Many times we see someone driving a very expensive car, wearing very expensive clothing or living in a mansion and we think they are fortunate or well off.
 
Yet, Jesus said, the one who is blessed is the one who believes in Him and yet has never seen Him.
 
We are the blessed ones my Pump Up subscribers. We may not have the expensive car, clothes or house but according to Jesus if we believe in Him we are the truly blessed ones.
 
In the future, if you are going through a physical, medical or financial trial just tell yourself the trial you are going through is temporary. What is important is you believe in Jesus and therefore according to Jesus you are blessed. That will never change unless you stop believing in Him and why would you want to do that? 

• Some Of The Blessing We Receive 

Romans 4:7-8 - "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.  "BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT."
 
Paul mentions three reasons why we are considered blessed: our lawless deeds have been forgiven, our sins have been covered (by the blood of the Lamb aka Jesus) and our sin will not be taken into account. (The reason the above scripture is in all capitals this is a direct quote from the Old Testament.)
 
I believe one of the greatest blessings we have received by believing in Jesus is found near the end of 1 John 5:20 - And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
 
We believe that Jesus has come. He has given us an understanding that we know He is true. He doesn't lie to us. When He said He goes to prepare a place for us He has done exactly that. We can believe that for He is true. Jesus is the true God and He is Eternal Life and by us being in Him we are possessors of Eternal Life.
 
If you ever feel discouraged think about how by being in Jesus Christ you are going to be with Him in Heaven for all eternity. You may be enduring some type of suffering now but a day is coming when your suffering will be over and because of that you are BLESSED.
 
A thought to ponder: For a Christian - life on this earth is the only hell we will ever know, but for the non-Christian life on this earth is the only heaven they will ever know.
 
Think About These:
 
When you realize your life is blessed your whole attitude will change.
 
God has blessed us so that we can bless others.
 
Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word