How many of you guys out there have come to realize that what your enemy meant for evil, God meant for good? Joseph’s brothers found that out the hard way. 

I can imagine that at that time his ten siblings were thinking thoughts that many of us have to this day: does not God only dispense blessings when something good happens? Our intent was to permanently dispose of our day-dreaming-braga-dose brother! Modern day researchers and bible scholars suggest that quite possibly, in the Christian’s vocabulary, the word blessed is the most frequently used word.

So, the question for this week’s blog is ‘how do you process your thoughts when someone’s actions towards you were suppose to have been a stumbling block, but in hindsight turned out to be a blessing from God (**). If your thoughts resemble those of Joseph’s brothers, then what you are really saying is that blessings from God are transient and therefore unreliable. That is, they are like a person who moves from place to place…similar to a homeless person. Unbeknown to the ten brothers, it was God who all along orchestrated them to execute a mis-deed that would in the future work out for God’s good in the form of a blessing. Needless to say, many Christians often only credit God for blessings received when something good happens to them. 

God proclaims with a loud voice…REVISE THAT MISGUIDED WAY OF THINKING! UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES CAN MAN EARN GOD’S BLESSINGS . BLESSINGS ARE A GIFT FROM GOD!

May I draw your attention to one of the most misunderstood biblical stories in the Holy Bible. It is found in Luke 15:11, “The parable of the prodigal son.” Basically, the elder son felt that he should earn the blessings of his father by remaining at home and working for his father. But that was not necessary.

For the father had already freely provided (on a daily basis) every thing for the elder son’s welfare, who, on the contrary, did not have to wait to receive it. Everything that the prodigal son received on his return to his Father’s house was awaiting him and freely given even though he did not deserve it. The prodigal son had not earned the loving blessing he received. 

The elder son had taken his father’s provisions for granted and perhaps had not thanked him nor shown his appreciation or gratitude during the time period his prodigal brother was on the fly. Ask yourself which brother are you. Do you take people’s generosity for granted?

And since the Truth is being told, neither have any of us done any thing worthy enough to receive forgiveness from God our Father, BUT because (like the father of the prodigal son), our Father God so loved us that he gave his only Begotten Son to shed blood and to die on the cross as atonement for our transgressions.

The lesson to be learned is this…

From the beginning, God created mankind to receive blessings. The very first words God spoke over Adam and Eve were blessings. For example, initially, human beings were created to be fruitful and multiply (meaning human beings should procreate). Also, God placed human autonomy over animal life; and last but not least, over all his creation. God also extends his blessings to us when we persevere under trials and tribulations. (James 1:12)

To refresh your memory of how we can surely please God and express our gratitude for his blessings is to practice all the attributes mentioned in the beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12 and Luke 6:20-23. These verses describe the inner qualities of a faithful servant of God.

So, I invite you to take some quality time to count your blessings by naming them one by one. I’m sure you will give God a little chuckle as you erroneously credit him for ‘blessings’ that you actually received from Satan and to Satan those genuine blessings that you actually received from God although you declared at the time…..the Devil made me do it! 

(*) NOTE: The references below concerning when God laughed were supplied from a Google search reference.

Three times in the Book of Psalms (Psalm 2:4; 37:13; 59:8) we read that God shall laugh. The word “laugh” does not mean what we usually think of today as laughing with “joy” or “making a joke of.” It always means, “to hold in derision — to mock or to scorn.” And when he laughs, he does so for our sake, to communicate to us.

He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. (Psalm 2:4)

God’s enemies may plot against his people, “but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming” (Psalm 37:12–13).

God laughs at those who set themselves against his anointed (Psalm 59:8).

(**) NOTE: When you finally received your ‘blessing’, did you proclaim to others…”see, God don’t like ugly!’ If that was your response, then you actually were taking credit for something you thought you had EARNED. Think about it. And remember that blessings are NOT earned. God alone put you in that new position perhaps for you to mentor a future employee for an assignment he alone had ordained. 

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