"Finally,
all of you, live in harmony with one another, be sympathetic, love as brothers, be
compassionate and humble...because to this you were called so that you may inherit a
blessing."
-1 Peter 3:8-9
What do you
think of when you hear the word "blessing"? Do you think of receiving
something, maybe a gift, or a complement?
After thinking
of what a blessing might be, would you like to receive one?
Webster's
Electron Thesaurus says, "blessing - an expression or utterance of good wishes".
The Greek word used here in first Peter for blessing is made up of the word
"well", and the word "word"; hence, "to speak well of"
Therefore, if
you are a blessed person, people will speak well of you. If you are well spoken of
there are natural results. What might they be? Can you think of any?
Because a
blessed person is well spoken of people would treat them nicely, give to them in time of
need, respect them, care for them. The list could go. It sure sounds like being a blessed
person is someone we would all like to be.
This scripture
tells the secret of how we can be such a person. It even states that God has called us to
a state of blessedness. He wants to bless us. He will bless us if we apply this scripture.
So what's the
secret? The verse says if we live in harmony with others, love as brothers, are
sympathetic and humble, then we will be blessed. The opposite would apply as well. If we
are not a loving person we can't expect a blessing.
It really is a
natural law. If we treat others the way we would like to be treated then they will want to
treat us in like fashion. It has been called the "law of returns". What we do
for and to others will return to us in like fashion. If we love, we will be loved. If we
despise, then we will be despised.
God has called
us to receive blessings. He will bless us. Will we do what is needed to live in such a
state of blessedness? Will we love? Will we receive a blessing?
Most of all,
will we be a blessing?