I AM A BLESSED BELIEVER

“…BLESSED are those who have not seen Me and yet have BELIEVED” – John 20:29b

In Christ, I AM A BLESSED BELIEVER: “Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seem Me, you have believed. BLESSED are those who have not seen Me and yet have BELIEVED” (Jh.20:29). To believe is to accept something as true, authentic, genuine, or real; to have a wholehearted conviction in someone or about something. God’s blessing refers to His favour, goodness, joy, or well-being. Those who respond to Him with defiance or disobedience cannot expect His blessing.

It was customary for the Old Testament priests to bless the Israelites: “The Lord bless you, and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace” (Num.6:24-26).

God’s blessings encompass the total well-being that comes from being the object of His favour, including: material provisions, sound health, and harmonious relationships. The greatest blessings are however spiritual and eternal (Eph.1:3). Jesus makes crystal clear the route to Blessings: “blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Lk.11:28b).

During His ministry, Jesus pronounced blessings in specific settings, such as the Beatitudes (Mt.5:30-12; Lk.6:20-22). He told the apostles they were blessed because they had the privilege of seeing and hearing spiritual truth that was hidden from others (Mt.3:17). He blessed Peter when he made his famous confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (Mt.16:17). He blessed the little children who were brought to Him (Mk.10:16). He pronounced a future blessing on those who obediently wait for His return (Lk.12:37-38). He blessed the apostles just before ascending into heaven (Lk.24:50).

The Gospel of John records two times that Jesus pronounced a blessing. In the upper room, after He washed the disciples’ feet and commanded them to follow His example, He said: “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them” – obedience (Jh.13:17). The second is John 20:29, which refers not only to Thomas, but all who have believed in Christ through the apostolic testimony since His ascension into heaven! We tend to think that if only we could have been there in to see Jesus in person when He was on the earth or at His resurrection, we’d be really blessed. While the early witnesses were blessed, we’re blessed the more because we believe, without having seen! We believe in Him whom we have not seen!

In Jesus’ mighty name, I declare that: I AM a BLESSED BELIEVER! I am not a doubter. I am blessed because I believe

In believing, signs and wonders follow me: “And these signs will follow those who BELIEVE: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mk.16:17-18).

In believing, I shall always encounter the Glory of God: “Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would BELIEVE you would see the glory of God?” (Jh.11:40).

In believing, I am rewarded: “Abraham BELIEVED God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Rom.4:3b). My believing will always count before God and be rewarded.

In believing, my destiny is secured: “I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have BELIEVED and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2Tim.1:12b).

In believing, I am filled with Joy, Peace, and Hope: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in BELIEVING, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom.15:13).

In believing, I enter into God’s Rest of Faith: “For we which have BELIEVED do enter into rest…” (Heb.4:3). I am no longer in bondage to anxiety, confusion, depression, perplexities, and worries.

The main goal of the Gospel is to produce Blessed Believers: “but these are written that you may BELIEVE that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (v.31b).