Blessed

“Blessed” (Psalm 1:1).

Psalm 1 functions as the introduction of the Book of Psalms. Psalm 1 tells us what the entire psalter is all about. In fact, you could say that Psalm 1 tells us the purpose of the entire Bible.

The very opening word of the Psalm tells us the topic of the psalter – “blessed.”

The entire book, and the entire Bible, is about how a follower of God can live a life that is blessed. In the coming days we will be looking at Psalm 1 together.

Blessed – the Hebrew word for blessed is esher. It means to be blessed or happy.

• God gave us his word so that his children can be happy and blessed.
• Jesus tells us the purpose of his coming in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” And the reason God wants his children to live a blessed and happy life is that a blessed and happy life brings God delight, joy, and glory.
• Jesus tells us this in John 15:8, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit.”

The first question and answer of the Westminster Shorter Catechism is, “What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.”

If our chief purpose for existing is to glorify God, what does God’s glory look like? What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear, “the glory of God?”

I don’t know about you, but I picture bright light.

But here’s the thing. Bright light doesn’t help me. I don’t know how to do bright light. I don’t know what that looks like in my life.

This is why what Jesus tells us in John 10:8 is so helpful. Jesus tells us exactly what God’s glory looks like – “That you bear much fruit.” It is when we live lives that bear much fruit, lives that are blessed, lives that are happy that God is glorified.

You see why “Blessed” and “Happy” are such important words for God? The entire Bible tells us how we might live blessed and happy lives.

Blessed. How cool is that?

How are you bearing much fruit today? How are you enjoying God and his blessings today?