Urban Dictionary - # 10 Blessing
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BLESSINGS
BLESSINGS
OPENING:
“BLESS YOU” IS A VERY COMMON GREETING IN THE CHURCH
WE ALSO BLESS PEOPLE WHEN THEY SNEEZE
WE BLESS A MEAL BEFORE WE EAT
WE SAY WE ARE BLESSED WHEN WE NARROWLY ESCAPE AN ACCIDENT OR A CLOSE CALL OF SOME TYPE.
WE SEND PEOPLE OFF WITH A BLESSING – SHE OR HE GAVE THEIR BLESSING TO THE MARRIAGE
URBAN DICTIONARY.
blessed
adjective for feeling good or having something good happen to you.
OUR TRANSLATION
The word blessed derives from the Greek term makarios, which means “fortunate,” “happy,” “enlarged,” or “lengthy.” Makarios is used in the Septuagint (a translation of the Old Testament into the Greek language) and the New Testament to define the kind of happiness that comes from receiving favor from God.
THE BIBLE – OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT HAVE MANY REFERENCES TO THE WORD BLESSING, BLESS AND BLESSED.
WE SEE IT USED IN ALL SITUATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES AS WELL AS FOR MANY DIFFERENT PURPOSES.
THERE IS THE BLESSING OF CREATION IN GENESIS 1:22
Maslow's hierarchy of needs
physiological needs:
like water, food, warmth and rest
safety needs:
security and safety - fill the earth and subdue it – Gen 1:28
belonging and love needs:
intimate relationship and friends - God made a helper for Adam – Genesis 2:18
Esteem needs:
prestige and feeling of accomplishment - God put Adam and Even in the garden to work and take care of it Gen 2:15
self-actualization:
achieving one's full potential including creative activities - God even allowed this to be fulfilled Gen 2:19 – He brought them to man to see what he would name them.
I WANT US TO LOOK AT THE BEATITUDES THAT WE FIND IN MATTHEW BECAUSE THESE ARE USUALLY QUOTED TO US AS COMMANDMENTS TO OBEY, RATHER THAN HAVING A FULL UNDERSTANDING.
1. A CODE OF ETHICS FOR THE DISCIPLES AND A STANDARD OF CONDUCT FOR ALL BELIEVERS
2. THEY CONTRAST KINGDOM VALUES
THESE BEATTITUDES ARE NOT MULTIPLE CHOICE – PICK WHAT YOU LIKE AND LEAVE THE REST.THEY MUST BE TAKEN AS A WHOLE. THEY DESCRIBE WHAT WE SHOULD BE LIKE AS CHRISTS FOLLOWERS.
BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT – THE OPPRESSED THE AFFLICTED THE MISERABLE THE NEEDY
BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN – WE MOURN FOR LOST THINGS, RIGHT NOW THERE ARE VERY FEW PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT GOT SOMETHING TO MOURN – MILESTONE BIRTHDAYS, GRADUATIONS, PROMS, FAMILY & FRIENDS DEATHS, RETIREMENT PARTIES AND THE LIST GOES ON. WE MOURN ALL THE LOSSES IN OUR LIFE.
BLESSED ARE THE MEEK – THE QUIET GENTLE, IMPOSED ON PEOPLE – THE ONES WHO SUBMIT
A spiritually meek person is not self-willed - not continually concerned with his own ways, ideas and wishes. They are willing to put themselves in second place and submit themselves to achieve what is good for others. Meekness is therefore the antithesis of self-will, self-interest, and self-assertiveness.
THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
the quality of being morally right or justifiable
Righteousness is one of the chief attributes of God as portrayed in the Hebrew Bible. Its chief meaning concerns ethical conduct (for example, Leviticus 19:36; Deuteronomy 25:1; Psalm 1:6; Proverbs 8:20). In the Book of Job the title character is introduced to us as a person who is perfect in righteousness
FOLLOWING THE DECREES OF THE LORD
BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL
THE FORGIVING, COMPASSIONATE.
So, to me, mercy is a “love that responds to human need in an unexpected or unmerited way.” At its core, mercy is forgiveness. The Bible speaks of God's love for sinners – that is, for all of us. But the Bible also relates mercy to other qualities beyond love and forgiveness.
BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART
The definition of pure is something that is not mixed with any other elements, that is not contaminated in any way or a person who has no sins or who is wholesome. An example of pure is what that has not been mixed with anything else.
BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS
To be a peacemaker means we must seek to be delivered from self-interest and not look at everything in terms of how it affects us. Instead we must be concerned about the glory of God and how we can best promote that glory in situations of conflict
BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Persecution is unfair or abusive treatment toward a person or group of people, such as the persecution of someone who is different by calling him or her rude names and making threats. The noun persecution is related to persecute, which comes from Latin persecut-, meaning “followed with hostility.”
THIS PERTAINS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE PERSECUTED BECAUSE THEY HAVE CHOSEN A WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Laura Story a few years ago had released her song Blessings she poses a great question in it -
We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things
'Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe
When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not our home
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise
Hungry - We see the loss of Esau’s birthright blessing for a bowl of stew
Angry - We see in Deuteronomy how Moses was denied a blessing of seeing the Israelite’s enter
the promise land because of anger.
Lonely – David stayed away from battle and being alone made a bad choice to seduce Bathsheba
Tired – Elijah being overtired and burnt-out wished he was dead and ran away from Jezebel
URBAN DICTIONARY.
blessed
adjective for feeling good or having something good happen to you.
JESUS OFFERS BLESSINGS FIRST
Matthew: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition 2. The Beatitudes: The Grace of the Kingdom 5:3–12
The word translated blessed is an exclamation of joy. It means, Oh, the good fortune of … or Oh, how happy. The very meaning of blessed suggests good news.
BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
I WANT US TO LOOK AT THE BEATITUDES THAT WE FIND IN MATTHEW BECAUSE THESE ARE USUALLY QUOTED TO US AS COMMANDMENTS TO OBEY, RATHER THAN HAVING A FULL UNDERSTANDING.
1. A CODE OF ETHICS FOR THE DISCIPLES AND A STANDARD OF CONDUCT FOR ALL BELIEVERS
2. THEY CONTRAST KINGDOM VALUES
THESE BEATTITUDES ARE NOT MULTIPLE CHOICE – PICK WHAT YOU LIKE AND LEAVE THE REST.THEY MUST BE TAKEN AS A WHOLE. THEY DESCRIBE WHAT WE SHOULD BE LIKE AS CHRISTS FOLLOWERS.
BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT – THE OPPRESSED THE AFFLICTED THE MISERABLE THE NEEDY
BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN – WE MOURN FOR LOST THINGS, RIGHT NOW THERE ARE VERY FEW PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT GOT SOMETHING TO MOURN – MILESTONE BIRTHDAYS, GRADUATIONS, PROMS, FAMILY & FRIENDS DEATHS, RETIREMENT PARTIES AND THE LIST GOES ON. WE MOURN ALL THE LOSSES IN OUR LIFE.
BLESSED ARE THE MEEK – THE QUIET GENTLE, IMPOSED ON PEOPLE – THE ONES WHO SUBMIT
A spiritually meek person is not self-willed - not continually concerned with his own ways, ideas and wishes. They are willing to put themselves in second place and submit themselves to achieve what is good for others. Meekness is therefore the antithesis of self-will, self-interest, and self-assertiveness.
THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
the quality of being morally right or justifiable
Righteousness is one of the chief attributes of God as portrayed in the Hebrew Bible. Its chief meaning concerns ethical conduct (for example, Leviticus 19:36; Deuteronomy 25:1; Psalm 1:6; Proverbs 8:20). In the Book of Job the title character is introduced to us as a person who is perfect in righteousness
FOLLOWING THE DECREES OF THE LORD
BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL
THE FORGIVING, COMPASSIONATE.
So, to me, mercy is a “love that responds to human need in an unexpected or unmerited way.” At its core, mercy is forgiveness. The Bible speaks of God's love for sinners – that is, for all of us. But the Bible also relates mercy to other qualities beyond love and forgiveness.
BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART
The definition of pure is something that is not mixed with any other elements, that is not contaminated in any way or a person who has no sins or who is wholesome. An example of pure is what that has not been mixed with anything else.
BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS
To be a peacemaker means we must seek to be delivered from self-interest and not look at everything in terms of how it affects us. Instead we must be concerned about the glory of God and how we can best promote that glory in situations of conflict
BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Persecution is unfair or abusive treatment toward a person or group of people, such as the persecution of someone who is different by calling him or her rude names and making threats. The noun persecution is related to persecute, which comes from Latin persecut-, meaning “followed with hostility.”
THIS PERTAINS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE PERSECUTED BECAUSE THEY HAVE CHOSEN A WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
BEATITUDES ARE BLESSINGS TO BE ENJOYED NOT COMMANDMENTS TO BE OBEYED
