The word "bless" can be used in several different ways. It is not a one size fits all kind of word.
- To give a blessing - give your time, resources, or show love to someone
- To receive a blessing - obtain benefit from someone else’s time, resources, or energy
- To describe prosperity - “How are you doing? I’m blessed.”; “The Lord has blessed me.”
- To honor, hallow, praise - “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.” Psalm 72:18 (ESV)
- To give a kind gesture after someone sneezes - “God bless you” (or “bless you”)
I’m going to focus on the blessings that we receive. Deuteronomy 11:26-28 sets blessing and curse before Israel in the context of the covenant God made with His people: obedience to His commands brought covenant blessing, while turning after other gods brought covenant consequences. That passage teaches us that obedience matters, but I do not want to turn it into a formula that says every good thing in a Christian’s life is payment for obedience or every hardship is punishment for disobedience. Scripture shows faithful people who suffer and undeserved grace given to sinners. God’s blessings are gifts of His goodness, and obedience is the faithful response of people who belong to Him.
When I originally wrote this devotional on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I thought about how blessed I am to live in a country that has benefited from Dr. King’s work. Dr. King was a Baptist minister and civil-rights leader whose Christian faith helped shape his commitment to nonviolent action, justice, and love. His leadership helped move the United States toward greater legal equality, and generations continue to benefit from that work.
One way to think about blessing, then, is not merely, “What can I receive?” but also, “How can my life become a blessing to someone else?” God can use our time, resources, courage, words, and service to benefit people we may never meet. A blessing can travel far beyond the person who first gives it, even reaching generations into the future.
Author: Travis White |
