Be Truly Blessed

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Scripture: Luke 11:27-28 (ESV)

27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

Devotion:

What does it mean to be blessed? Often, we associate blessing with material prosperity, health, happiness, or success. We may think God blesses us when He gives us what we want or need. But Jesus teaches us a different perspective on blessing in this passage.

He was teaching the crowds about the kingdom of God, and a woman in the crowd praised His mother, Mary, for giving birth to Him. She must have thought that God highly blessed Mary for being chosen to bear the Messiah. And indeed, Mary was blessed in that sense (Luke 1:42-45). But Jesus did not affirm her remark. Instead, He pointed to a higher blessing available to anyone following Him.

He said, 'Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!' (v. 28). To hear God's word means listening attentively and receptively to His revelation, whether through the Scriptures, the prophets, or the Son. To keep it means to obey it, put it into practice, and live according to it. Jesus is saying that the true blessing of God is not based on our biological relationship to Him, but on our spiritual response to Him. This means reading the Bible, understanding its teachings, applying them in our daily lives, and living according to God's will.

How can we apply this truth to our lives? First, we need to recognize that hearing and keeping God's word is not just a command, but a privilege and a gift. We are not entitled to it, nor can we earn it. By God's grace, He reveals Himself to us and enables us to respond in faith and obedience. We should thank Him for this blessing and cherish it.

Next, we must habitually hear and keep God's word daily. We should read and study the Scriptures regularly, meditate on them, memorize them, and apply them to our lives. We should also listen to God's voice through prayer, worship, and fellowship. We should seek to align our will with His and follow His guidance.

Finally, we must share the blessing of hearing and keeping God's word with others. We should not keep it to ourselves but proclaim it to those who do not know Him. We should also encourage and support one another in living out the word of God. We should bear witness to the transforming power of God's word in our lives, for it is this power that gives us hope and inspires us to share this blessing with others.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for the blessing of hearing and keeping Your word. Please help me treasure it and obey it. May Your word be a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. May it shape my thoughts, words, and actions. May it draw me closer to You and make me more like You. Amen.

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