“Count your many blessings”

Luke 6:21-23

If you were to ask many churchgoers, are you blessed, and not at church where many put on their religious face but in the workplace, at school and at home, I wonder what would be the answer?  How one sees blessing has much to do with the condition of their relationship to Jesus Christ.  A person with self at the center will look at others with their land and gold, with their talents and physical skillsets and not come to the understanding of verses 21-23.

Let me share with you a man who was very successful in business, but never lost contact with the understanding of where his blessings came from and an understanding of the blessings that were to come.  Johnson Oatman Jr. the son of Johnson and Rachel Ann Cline had attended Herbert’s Academy in Vincentown, New Jersey, the New Jersey Collegiate Institute in Bordentown. He was ordained a Methodist Episcopal minister at age 19, but his pastoral work was confined to local churches, as he worked full time in the retail and insurance industries. He wrote lyrics for 5,000 Gospel songs.

His is well known for this song, “Count your many blessings,” and it goes like this Count your many blessings name them one by one, count your many blessings see what God has done.  I want to share two verses of the song with you, it matters not what life has given you to this point, apply these to your life and you will join the many who have found peace and hope in the promises of our Lord.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

These are the words of Jesus to you and I, “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.  “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.”
My dear friend Carroll Ray Jr., who I miss very much, would often share words of wisdom with me; “Faith is acting like Jesus tells the truth.”  Do you believe Jesus for your current circumstances?  For us who are in Christ, we should never forget these words, “It is Friday now but Sunday is coming.”  Sunday has come in my heart, Jesus is alive, and no matter what comes, I am blessed, but if I could talk to my friend Carroll, the stories he would share of the glory of being with Jesus.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice