We’re using the summer to reflect on how Jesus’ resurrection transforms our lives and what we need to do to enjoy His fullness of life. In this week’s devotion, we learn the conditions of receiving God’s full blessings:

IN WORD God called us to live a countercultural, hope-filled life for a reason: to be blessed. Peter’s instructions to his persecuted readers encompass a whole array of behaviors and attitudes—brotherly love, sympathy, returning good for evil, hopefulness, suffering for doing good, and more. The picture he gives is of a spiritual oddity in the midst of oppressive circumstances. He describes a people who will not cave in to the culture of selfishness and victimization. He urges his readers to stand out as nonconforming beacons of hope and goodness. And he reminds them that God blesses such nonconformists. That has been true throughout Scripture. Noah, for example, lived in the midst of a twisted generation, and he lived differently. God blessed him. The same can be said of Abraham, Elijah, Esther, Daniel, and a host of other biblical characters.
That’s God’s methodology; those who conform to His character rather than to the world around them will be at odds with the world but at home in the heart of God. And there’s no place of greater blessing than that. Most Christians are hungry for a life that is blessed. We pray for it and try to feed ourselves with blessing after blessing, often not realizing that the key is an attitude that fits God’s character. God has designed His people to be like Him in order to be visible witnesses of His glory. And though there are few blessings offered by the world for that, the blessings of God outweigh the world’s offerings enormously.
IN DEED Do you want to be blessed? Then live with a countercultural attitude. Conform your expectations, your lifestyle, and your very heart to the person of God. Refuse to fit the world’s standards for behavior; have a higher one. As you do, you will fit right in with the mission of God. And you will be blessed. “Blessed is he who does good to others and desires not that others should do good to him.” —Brother Giles of Assisi (in “God With Us” by Chris Tiegreen)

It’s important to understand that salvation is not by works; it is a freely given by God and paid for by the sacrifice of His Son Jesus on the Cross. But throughout the Bible, blessings are conditional. As well, being blessed does not mean a life of wealth and health, free of suffering. Even if we live a life aligned to God’s will, there will always be trial and affliction because we live in a fallen world. But in every circumstance, we are promised His blessings that will enable us to rise above our circumstances.
Take time to reflect on the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 – 7. Note in particular God’s definition of blessedness in verses 1-12 and the relationship between our pursuits and God’s blessings in chapter 6. Then ask the Holy Spirit to open your life to deeper, fuller blessings. Have a blessed week! - from Singapore, Pastor Sam