About That Blessing

Define "blessing"

How would you define a “blessing”? Many would say that a blessing is a good and perfect gift from God. David Roper said, “ blessing is more than a polite response to a sneeze.” I think it's really important to understand what he said next: “We bless others when we bring them to the One who is the source of blessing.” 

Melchizedek Blesses Abram

Do you know about the blessing received by Abram? Melchizedek was a king of Salem, a city-state in the land of Canaan. You can read about the circumstances behind it, but Abram had just returned from battle and Melchizedek brings out bread and wine for the hero. Then Melchizedek blesses Abram:

Blessed be Abram of God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
And blessed be God Most High,
Who has delivered your enemies into your hand. (Gn 14:19–20)

God later promises that when Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in His name, the Lord himself will bless them.

Keep It Going

Charles Stanley said “It is God’s nature to bless. However, we need to understand that His purpose is greater than we may realize. His ultimate goal encompasses far more than simply making us happy, peaceful, protected, and prosperous. In fact, it’s never the Lord’s intention for His blessings to end with us. Rather, He wants them to flow out to others as part of His plan for the whole earth.”

The blessings are not intended to end with its recipient. The Lord expects us to pass along, or as a popular movie said ‘pay it forward’.

Here is a wonderful example. Marquis de Lafayette was a French officer who provided invaluable assistance to George Washington and the struggling American army. After the war was over, he returned to France and resumed his life as a farmer of many estates. In 1783, the harvest was a terrible one, and there were many who suffered as a result. Lafayette’s farms were unaffected by the devastating crop failures. One of his workers offered what seemed to be good advice to Lafayette, “The bad harvest has raised the price of wheat. This is the time to sell.” After thinking about the hungry peasants in the surrounding villages, Lafayette disagreed and said, “No, this is the time to give.”

Lafayette may have felt that he had received something that was undeserved (a blessing) and he perhaps understood God’s intention to have that blessing passed on to others.

Have you been blessed lately? Remember this was not just for you!

Stanley reminds us “He’s also doing something in and through you to affect the lives of others. Don’t let the pleasures and comforts of His blessings blind you to their intended purpose. Ask the Lord how to use His kindnesses as a way to point people to Him.”

David Roper added, “We can bless others by praying with them; we can take them to the throne of grace to find help in time of need.”

A blessing for you from Hebrews 13:20-21….

Now may the God of peace—

who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus,

the great Shepherd of the sheep,

and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—

may he equip you with all you need

for doing his will.

May he produce in you,

through the power of Jesus Christ,

every good thing that is pleasing to him.

All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.

"His faithful love endures forever."

Until next time...

Chaplain Gray