Blessed

The ideal congregation hungers and thirsts after righteousness. Jesus said, “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Mt.5:6). The security of the blessing pronounced resides in the security of Jesus’ promise that each one so hungering and thirsting shall be filled. The providential care of our Lord assists in bringing this promise unto fulfillment. Such is truly a wonderful promise, knowing that if we pursue righteousness as we ought, the Lord has given his word that our spiritual appetite for righteousness will be satisfied.

The righteousness spoken of here involves the divine plan of righteousness that results in a personal verdict of righteousness. This righteousness is nothing less than that which is in accord with the norm and standard of right, the objective revelation of the word of God. To hunger and thirst after righteousness suggests a deep-seated craving which compels one to go to great lengths to fulfill its demands. Invariably, one thus becomes a diligent student of the word (ref. Acts 17:11). May we be emboldened to trust in the Lord’s promise and thus be motivated to hunger and thirst after righteous- ness as we have never done before!

The ideal congregation desires to be all that one can be, individually and congregationally. The apostle Peter exhorted first century Christians to “add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity” (2 Pet.1:5-7). When obeyed, this exhortation assists in developing full maturity in both attitude and daily living.

Fulfilled maturity requires one to seek to live up to his potential. The parable of the talents (Mt.25:14-30) illustrates the necessity and the value of so doing while demonstrating the danger of personal failure. The example of the poor widow who gave all her living to the treasury (Mk.12:41-43) deserves our consideration and imitation. She truly fulfilled her individual potential. Additionally, we will not be content with past achievements, either individually or as a congregation, if we hope to reach full maturity. Paul remembered his past while properly relating to his past and the future (Phil.3:13-14). He pressed on! As we seek to be all that we can be, let us do so courageously with unyielding and confident faith, being servants of both God the Father and those about us (Romans 6).

These are just a couple more aspects to consider about the ideal congregation. Next week I’ll pose a couple more for all of us to chew on. May God be with us and bless us all on our Christian journey!

As I ponder over things in this life and the things I should have done, I awaken to the fact that I still can do the things I should have done long ago. The thing that comes to mind first is that I should have been much more thankful for what I was blessed with. When the inspired writer of Malachi writes in 1:2, it says this, “”I have loved you,” says the Lord, But you say, “How have you loved us?”” The Jews during this time were not very thankful for what God had done for them. Even though this is written to the Jews, it still can apply to us today.

Are we thankful for all that God has done for us? Or do we say I am not very blessed, just look at my situation in this life. We all just need a calculator to start numbering all that our God has blessed with and be so thankful. I understand it today but as I was growing up I should have been more thankful for my family. I was very blessed to have parents who really loved me and gave their all to make me the person that I am. Not only my parents but my whole family, grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins. As I look back in time when all these members were here, I should have been even more thankful. You really don’t understand these great blessings until you don’t have them any longer. Most of us could relate to this and understand how we have been blessed, so we must be thankful.

In my youth I was blessed by a great church family. Elders and preachers who were great examples but I should have been more aware of how much they loved me and taught me about God. There was a little old lady who told me a story from the Bible that I still remember, Alice was her name. I wish I could tell them all thank you for helping for this person called Jack.

The things that should never come from me at this point in life is that I am ungrateful for all the blessings that come from our God. Our God has given His Son to me. God has given us the hope that carries us thru every day. He will bless us with the hope of heaven if we are true and obedient to Him.

Psalm 111 says, “Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart, In the company of the upright and in the assembly. Great are the works of the Lord; They are studied by all who delight in them. Splendid and majestic is His work, And His righteousness endures forever. He has made His wonders to be remembered; The Lord is gracious and compassionate. He has given food to those who fear Him; He will remember His covenant forever. He has made known to His people the power of His works, In giving them the heritage of the nations. The works of His hands are truth and justice; All His precepts are sure. They are upheld forever and ever; They are performed in truth and uprightness. He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; Holy and awesome is His name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.”

I am thankful. Will you be? – Jack Hawes

The Ideal Congregation (Pt. 2)

We Should be Thankful