“—Men shall be blessed in Him.” Psalms 72:17
EVERY thing out of Christ is under the curse; all blessings are treasured up in Him, and can only be received and enjoyed by union to and communion with Him. If in Him, He is made of God unto us, wisdom, righteousness, strength, sanctification, and redemption; if separate from Him, His work will profit us nothing. How important then is union to Jesus! All who are in Him are blessed with the favour of God, which compasses them as a shield; with access to God, by the Spirit, as to a kind and indulgent Father; with the friendship of God; He calls them not servants but friends, and His friendship is a good fortune; with justification before God, as the great Lawgiver and Judge of all; with sanctification by God, to the praise, honour, and glory of His grace; and ultimately they will be glorified with God through eternal ages. All things are theirs, and for them is laid up a crown of righteousness, which fadeth not away; a treasure in Heaven which corrupteth not, and where thieves cannot steal. Oh, blessed state! Oh, happy persons! But this honour have all the saints.
Blessings abound where Jesus reigns:
The prisoner leaps to lose his chains;
The weary find eternal rest,
And all the sons of want are blest.
In Him the tribes of Adam boast,
More blessings than their father lost.— James Smith (1840)
