Over the years I have had many people come up to me and ask a variety of questions about God and faith. One of the more common questions asked of me is this, “How can I live a good (or blessed) life? Now I understand that this question is loaded with intent. Some are asking, “How can I get what I want from God?” Some are asking, “How can I get through life without trouble and heartache?” However, some genuinely want to know how to live in partnership with God and be blessed with a desire to bless others.
To be blessed means to protect, make holy, to favor. When we speak of God blessing us we are addressing his divine protection, His allowing us to partner with His Spirit as He makes us holy and Christ-like, as well as, finding favor with Him. One way I know I am blessed is because I am forgiven. The ancient sage David had this to say:
“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit” (Psa 32:1-2).
In short, blessed are the forgiven.
As we explore God’s Word, we discover that only the forgiven are truly blessed. The Apostle Paul quotes Psalm 32:1-2 in Romans 4:7-8 explaining that the forgiveness David spoke of was in anticipation of the sacrifice of Christ as the ultimate basis for our forgiveness. Paul will later write in response to Christ’s salvific work:
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1).
Believers through faith in Christ has been justified and declared righteous by God, once and for all. The result is that the Christian does not live under the fear of judgment but has peace with God, which is more than a mere feeling, but an actual state of being – a reality. Not that is a blessed life.
Notice that David in Psalm 32 speaks of “deceit.” This deceit, which David addresses, is the deceiving of oneself about his sins. This deception can take the posture of one who does not believe in sin or at least that his sin is really that big a deal. Sin is a big enough deal for God to leave His heaven and come to die on a cross to cancel its power over those who choose to believe in Him. Yes! It is that big a deal.
David’s mentioning of a persons “spirit” is meant to emphasize that mere words do not bring forgiveness, but words partnered with a contrite heart (right intentions) do. Therefore, the words we use are not nearly as important as our actual admittance of wrongdoing and a desire to be right with God. Jesus provides the avenue by which we can travel down to find forgiveness. This forgiveness avenue is not just a blessing but indeed leads us to be blessed.
I am so thankful that God has offered us forgiveness in Christ. As believers, we are truly blessed. As we journey together, let us not forget to remind one another of how blessed we genuinely are and to share His love and message of forgiveness and blessing with others.