Finding the Blessed Life

"Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!" (Ps. 119:1-3).

I think we all want a "blessed" life.  However, I am not certain we would define "blessed" in quite the same terms that we see in Scriptures.  Nor do I believe we understand how one enters into the blessed life in quite the same way the Bible explains it.  We think of the blessed life in terms of health, wealth, success, and fame.  The Bible presents the blessed life as a life that receives God's approval.  We think people enter a blessed life by chance (luck), or by birth (inheritance), or by good works.

Psalm 119:1-3 could be taken in such a way that it would appear that blessing comes by hard work, but that would be a misunderstanding.  The Psalmist isn't encouraging us to pull ourselves up by our spiritual bootstraps in order that we may be blessed by God.  He is demonstrating the kind of people God's blessing rests upon.  Those who "walk in the law of the LORD" are blessed.  Those "who keep his testimonies" experience blessing because they trust him.

It is impossible to walk in the law or to keep the LORD's testimonies without trusting in the Lord.  If we do not have the Holy Spirit indwelling us, it is humanly impossible to do God's will.  However, when we trust in Christ, the Holy Spirit comes and dwells in us.  The Spirit's presence enables us to do what the Lord requires.  He creates in us a desire for and a delight in the Word of God.  As we respond to the Spirit's leading, we find ourselves walking the ways of the Lord.  As we walk in the ways of the Lord, his good pleasure shines upon us and we are happy in him.  To be happy in the Lord and to be in his good pleasure is to be blessed.

Therefore, if we are to enjoy God's blessing, then we must walk according to his word.  More than this, we must pursue the ways of the Lord with wholehearted devotion.  If we will do this, the Lord promises that we will be blessed.  Are you pursuing the Lord with wholehearted devotion?  Are you walking in accordance with his Word? If you are not, then you will not experience the blessing of the Lord.