The Blessings of Jesus

 

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”   Mat 5:3.   The poor in spirit are those who are humble and gentle in nature.  Not the proud, not the pushy, not those who demand their own way.

Jesus said in  Mat 11:29,   “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me.  For I am humble and gentle in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls.”

Haven’t you ever felt like you needed rest?  We all have.  But this world just keeps on going, and it keeps on pushing, and it will never provide you with the rest you need.  But Jesus WILL give you rest.

 

When Jesus tells us to take His yoke upon us, many people think that means for us to take His burdens upon us.  But that’s not what Jesus meant.  Jesus had said in the previous verse,  “Come unto Me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  We’re already burdened by the world, and by this life.  Jesus isn’t telling us to take on more burdens, He’s promising us rest.  He’s actually promising us an “eternal vacation”!  Now who wouldn’t want that?

 

To take His yoke upon us, is to be joined together with Him.  Just like a yoke can join together a team of horses, or a team of oxen, when we take His yoke upon us, we “team up” with Him.  And just like that team of horses or oxen, who then walk the same path together, when we team up with Christ, we also, “walk the same path” with him.

 

And here’s something that we can really appreciate.  The reason that we yoke two animals together, is because just one of them could never do the same work that the team could accomplish.  And that’s exactly how it is with us.  We could never accomplish, what needs to BE accomplished, without being yoked to Christ.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”   Philippians 4:13

 

Are you “yoked to Christ”?  Would you like to have an “eternal vacation” promised to you?  Well you can have it all, and you can DO all things, through Christ.  In reality, we can do nothing, without Him.  Oh, the world thinks that it’s accomplishing great things.  But in reality, it’s all vanity!

Listen to the words of the “preacher”, the son of David, the King in Jerusalem,  “I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, it is vanity and striving after wind.”   Ecclesiastes 1:14

 

 

 

 

 

 

The “Preacher” was Solomon the son of King David.  Solomon was the third king of Israel.  And God had granted him unparalleled wisdom and riches.  The story of Solomon is truly quite amazing.  After Solomon had become king of Israel, he was so overwhelmed with the greatness of the blessings and the position that had been given him, he thanked God sincerely with all his heart.  His prayer is recorded in the bible, in  1 Kings 3:6-9. 

We’re told in V-3,  “Now Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David…”  King David, Solomon’s father, is known as “A man after God’s own heart”.   God Himself said,  “I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after My heart, he will do all My will.”   Acts 13:22

 

We’ve seen from the scriptures that Solomon loved the Lord.  And so the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night and said,  “Ask what you wish Me to give you.”   1 Kings 3:5.   And this brings us to the prayer that Solomon prayed to God.  Now please listen to that prayer found in  1 Kings 3:6-9…

“You have shown great loving-kindness to Your servant David, my father, according as he walked before You in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You.  And You have reserved for him this loving-kindness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.  And now, O Lord, my God; You have made Your servant king, in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.  (Solomon was only 15 years old when he was appointed as king over Israel)  And Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who cannot be counted for the multitude of them.  So give Your servant an understanding heart, to judge Your people, to discern between good and evil.  For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

 

The next verse tells us that God was pleased with what Solomon had requested.  And God said to him…

“Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have you asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice; Behold I have done according to your words; Behold I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you, nor shall one like you arise after you.  And I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you, all your days.  And if you shall walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days.”

 

That’s quite the blessing isn’t it?  Because Solomon approached God with a humble and unselfish heart, God blessed him beyond measure.  The wisest and wealthiest man to ever have lived!  (Well, besides Jesus that is.  But Jesus possessed spiritual wealth)

 

Jesus said,  “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

 

In all the wisdom that had been given him, king Solomon, “the preacher” said,  “Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done, and the labor which I had exerted, and behold, all was vanity and striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.”  Eccl 2:11

All the works of this world, and the deeds of this world, are.. Vanity, Striving after wind, and NO profit under the sun!   Without being “teamed up” with Christ, ALL is useless.

 

Blessed are they, who are yoked with Jesus!