The Works of the Lord

The Works of the Lord

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 5:3. The one who is poor in spirit is not aware of his exalted position until the Lord has awakened him with His word. Then he is in a position to comprehend it by faith.

“‘For [the sake of] the oppression of the poor, for [the sake of] the sighing of the needy, now I will arise,’ says the Lord; ‘I will set him in the safety for which he yearns.’” Ps. 12:5. The Lord sees the oppressed and the poor, and He can help them. Help is salvation from all sin and all darkness.

As natural human beings we do not want to be among the oppressed; on the contrary, we would rather help ourselves. But when the Lord enters the picture, everything changes—God be praised for His works!

God said to Abraham, “Get out of your country, from your kindred and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.” Gen. 12:1-2.

God knew Abraham beforehand and knew that he would respond in the right way. Therefore He told him that He would bless him and make a great nation out of him. Abraham was obedient; he departed, and he was blessed. It is a law in God’s kingdom that everyone who is obedient to God and His word will be blessed. But what does God say further to Abraham? “And you shall be a blessing!” [Emphasis added.]

God does not hold anything back; He gives His chosen ones everything He can possibly give them. Therefore all of creation will say, “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” Rev. 5:13.

Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard and anointed Jesus’ feet. Jesus answered the others’ objections with, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have with you always.” John 12:3-8. Mary was a blessing to Jesus, encouraging Him on the way to His death on the cross.

We become a blessing relative to the sacrifices we bring. Jesus said, “Father, glorify Your name.” John 12:28. Jesus’ life was to glorify the Father’s name. We constantly pray for His blessings, which is right, but we also ought to pray that He would grant us to be a blessing for Him and to people. We are a blessing for God when we do His works for people.

Having been chosen (Rom. 8:29-30), we have become His possession. It is a great blessing to take care of God’s possession so that He can be pleased with it. It becomes our great joy when we are always a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God. Rom. 12:1. It is the Lord’s work with us that we find the way to perfection. “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” 1 Thess. 5:23-24.