03/04/2026
Where do our blessings come from? Are we busy trying to earn them? Is our goal in doing God’s will to be blessed, or is our blessing simply that of being in His will? Where do our spiritual blessings truly come from, and how do we come by them? And finally, do we really know what being blessed means? Let’s look at the role of Christ in our many blessings today as we attempt to answer these questions regarding how we are being blessed.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love”
Ephesians 1:3-4 ESV
We learn from this scripture that every spiritual blessing comes by our being in Jesus Christ, and we do so by having faith in Him, obeying Him, and loving Him. When we do this then we also have these things in the Father through Christ.
“"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”
John 14:1 ESV
So, what does it mean to be blessed? Here is a surprise... biblically speaking it does not mean to receive good fortune! In the Bible the word blessed in the Greek comes from the word “Makarios” which means to be in a position to receive the favor of God, or to be made holy. In Hebrew there are two words used, “Barak” (bless or blessed) which means to give as an inheritance, and the word “Barakah” (blessing) which means to receive an inheritance or gift.
So biblically speaking, just because we receive some good thing, or experience some good happening in our lives we should not automatically consider ourselves as being blessed, any more than simply receiving or experiencing bad should mean we are cursed. When the scripture says “blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” this means we receive these things as an inheritance. This falls right in line with another scripture we love to quote..
“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”
Romans 8:16-17 ESV
So now let’s look once more at the original questions I posed...
“Where do our blessings come from?” Well, they come from being in Jesus, or in other words dwelling in Him. In this way we receive an inheritance along with Him.
“Are you busy trying to earn them?” This is a question of motivation and is further defined by the combination of the following questions...
“Is your goal in doing God’s will to be blessed, or is your blessing simply that of being in His will?” With introspection we each need to answer these questions for ourselves. Is our primary goal the inheritance, or would we serve God and seek His Will even if we thought we would receive nothing? Is abiding in Jesus enough?
I am certain we have each witnessed these types first hand in our lives, but I work in the healthcare industry, and I see this in a personal and obvious light. There are those that see healthcare as simply a job, while others view it as a calling. Some would suffer to do what they do every day, while others would seek employment elsewhere at the moment they were challenged or their paychecks were cut. It is easy to tell the difference between these people when we walk into a doctor’s office or a hospital ward. This is true of faith as well. There are those who are seeking the presence of God receive a reward, and others who would suffer mightily just to be in His presence... so in this example, there is Judas, and then there is Peter or John.
The final questions are a repetition of those already asked... “Where does our spiritual blessing truly come from, and how do we come by it?” The point here is to emphasize the importance of these questions as they relate to our faith. Our inheritance comes from God and we can only gain it through a life in which we abide in Jesus Christ. We can only receive our blessing by being in Christ, and there is nothing we can do outside of grace and Jesus, that would earn us true blessing or inheritance.
“Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
John 15:3-4 ESV
So, how did we originally answer these questions? Have our answers changed?
“I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."'”
Luke 15:18-19 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for the blessings that I have received through your Son Jesus Christ. Your inheritance is upon Him Father, and as I abide in Him, and He in me, I share in that blessing. Help me Holy Father to love you above all things, above all gain, and above even the desire for your blessing. Help me to understand that just being in your presence is my reward, and if that means that I should become as a hired servant, it would be enough. Great is your grace and mercy Father, that you have sent your Only Begotten Son to die that I might live, and for His charitable love that invites me to abide in Him, and to share in your inheritance... your blessing. I praise your name Merciful Father, and I lift you up before all men, for you are my God, a Great God above all things, and even the least in your house is higher than the most exalted in the world. Holy, Holy, Holy, art thou my God, and greatly to be praised, not because you bless me, but because you allow me to be forevermore in your presence. My blessing and reward exists in you, and you alone.
“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6 ESV
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
Colossians 3:23-24 ESV
“Behold, the Lord God comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.”
Isaiah 40:10 ESV
Amen, Amen, Amen!
Rich Forbes