blessedness

In Scripture, being blessed is far beyond being happy. Happiness is a gift from God, though when people are happy it may be misplaced, and often is in this fallen world. Yet there are a good number of gifts given to humans that bring happiness that are good, and of course from God.

Blessedness carries us toward God's great and good end in Jesus and so it goes beyond happiness. Though it certainly does not exclude happiness, or the good gifts God gives to all. But it does bring its challenges and challenge, because to be blessed by God means to be in covenant with God, and to be different: in, but not of this world. It not only anticipates the world to come, but it actually is, or consists of the world to come, even in this world. So it's a blessedness not of this world, but breaking into it, in God's kingdom present in Jesus.

Of course blessedness began prior to Jesus among God's covenant people Israel, and actually to all who responded to God by grace through faith prior to that.

Blessedness! I love it, and I am afraid of it. But in Jesus along with others, I want to embrace it and live in it, and live it out, through Jesus by the Spirit in this world.

Any thoughts on this?