Blessed

We have been studying the life of Mary these past two weeks in our Women's Bible Study. What an example! In the first two chapters of Luke, we see a clear picture of a young lady who was a woman of the Word, who trusted in God's sovereignty, and had a heart of joy-filled submission to God's Word and His way. Her knowledge of the Word of God informed her understanding of the character of God, enabling her to trust His power, goodness, and plan with humble, joyful submission, in spite of the cultural and relational pain that very likely ensued when her pregnancy became known. What a blessed woman!

Of course, all that she was, all that she did and even the attitude in which she did it, came from the Lord. "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things" (Romans 11:36). Still, it is right to look at her as blessed (though, false religions have given her undue praise and prominance). Elizabeth called her blessed. Even Mary in the beautiful "Magnificat" recognized that all generations to come would call her blessed.

Hard not to be a little envious of her...but this is where it gets fun! :)

Another woman called Mary blessed about 9 chapters later in Luke 11:27 and said, "The womb that bore You and the one who nursed You are blessed." Nothing to argue about there...but what happens next is MIND BLOWING for the believer. Jesus replies, "Even more, those who hear the Word of God and keep it are blessed." (vs 28)

Even more, we are blessed.

Even more than the blessing of the physical, belongs the blessings of the spiritual...for those who are in Christ.

Read these beautiful words from Ephesians 1:

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who  has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ; for He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will, to the praise of His glorious grace that He favored us with in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding." (vs. 3-8)

We are blessed...truly, so very blessed!