The Blessing Blessedness the good fortune not found in a cookie

The Blessing

Blessedness the good fortune not found in a cookie 

“…the blessedness of the man to whom God credits

righteousness apart from works:

"Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven,

whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him."  

Romans 4: 6-8

All of us wish we could find good fortune in a cookie.

Eat a good meal break, open a great tasting cookie

and read of wonderful things that will happen to us.

No wonder we don’t eat in Chinese restaurants every day.

Good fortune is not found in a cookie.

Paul tells us, “Blessedness” which means

good fortune, comes from faith in God.

This is what the Bible says is Blessedness…

"Blessed are they

whose transgressions are forgiven,

whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord

will never count against him."   Romans 4:7,8

How is this favor or grace obtained?

Abraham is the Bible’s model example.

Abraham believed and put his faith in God.

This was counted, or credited, to him as righteousness.

Righteousness is right standing with God.

It was not a mark on his body or the works he did.

It was trusting God.

Emmett is a 3 year old and recently became our grandson

when our son, Marty, married his mother, Crystal.  

 

Emmett loves to come into my office and

impress me with all the things in my office.

He likes to put on my glasses, sit in my chair.

He wants to be like me;

He wants to be accepted.

Today I saw my office door was closed.

With concern, I opened the door and there was Emmett.

Emmett immediately showed me a red marker

in one hand and the cap to it in the other.

 

He was proud to be working in the office, like me.

Yes, there was red ink on my desk, the copier, and a box.

I began to explain the dangers.

You could see the disappointment in his face and eyes.

We are like little Emmett, we can want to be like God.

We can do the things He does and think we are

doing it perfectly as God does.

But like Emmett, we make a mess.

Emmett believes in me and did not want

to do wrong, he just wants be like me.

I did not count his wrong against him.

I reassured him of my love and asked

if he would do something for me.

I asked if he would throw away a piece of paper.

This put a big smile back on his face.

He knew that even though he had failed,

 I still loved him and wanted his help.

Emmett got the credit of righteousness from me not because he

did it right, but because he believes in me and wants to be like me.

Abraham believed God and even though he made

mistakes he was credited by God with righteousness. 

Scripture Reading

Romans 4:4-10 NIV

4 Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5 However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

7 "Blessed are they

whose transgressions are forgiven,

whose sins are covered.

8 Blessed is the man

whose sin the Lord will never count against him."  

9 Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness.