From Justin Simspson, home church leader in Heathmont, Melbourne
The LORD had said to Abram, ‘…I will bless you… and you will be a blessing to others… All the families on the earth will be blessed through you.’ (Gen 12.1-3)

Deb and I often comment to each other how God is blessing us and how blessed we feel.  God is blessing our marriage and our children and our home.  He’s blessed us with families who love him and us, and with people who have invested time into our lives and discipled us.  He’s blessing our Christian community.  God’s blessing my work at the factory.  God has blessed us by giving us challenges through which we’ve grown closer to him and more focussed on his purposes.

The thing is that as we’ve opened our lives, our family and home to our community and other friends, and shared God’s blessing with them, we’ve felt even more blessed.  God has blessed us richly, so we can bless others.  And as we’ve blessed others, we’ve experienced God’s blessing even more.

(Perhaps you react to the word ‘blessing’, because it conveys prosperity doctrine.  What I think about when I use the word is God’s goodness in our lives and relationships - that includes his provision of our physical needs and even sometimes our wants - but it is more about our lives and communities.)As Jesus’ followers and God’s children, God blesses us.  And he blesses us, so that he can bless others through us.  Like Abraham, we are blessed to be a blessing.  God’s intention is that all families on the earth will be blessed through us.

How is God blessing you?  Count your blessings.  Consider your relationship with him, your relationships with others, your Christian community, your home, your employment, your education, your life opportunities, your health, your food, your water, your freedom, your natural environment.  Some of us have experienced considerable pain and suffering in your life, and we can wonder whether God just blesses other people.  But if we think about the ways God is blessing us, we can come to see that we are blessed by God.  Count your blessings every day.

How do we share God’s blessings with the people around us, so we’re instruments of his blessing?  First, Jesus said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ (Acts 20.35).  Give consistently to other people.  Extend hospitality and share the blessing of your home.  Give your time to people.  Share your finances, especially through your Christian community.

Second, Jesus said, ‘God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice.’ (Matt 5.6, NLT).  Bless people in need by acting on their behalf and addressing injustices where you are.  A third thing.  Jesus said, ‘God blesses those who are merciful.’ (Matt 5.7).  Bless people who have hurt or mistreated you by forgiving them (cf. Luke 6.48).  Jesus also said, ‘God blesses those who work for peace.’  (Matt 5.9).  Be an agent of reconciliation between people in conflict and you will be a blessing.

Finally, Jesus said, ‘When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.’  (Luke 12.48).  Accept the responsibility God has given you to share you blessings.  How are you blessing others?  How are you blessing the people you’re regularly in contact with?  How do you bless the lady at the checkout or the disabled man on the street?  How are you sharing your blessings so that all the families on the earth will be blessed?

A prayer
Lord, thank you for your blessings in my life.  Thanks specifically for this ______ and this ______ and this _____.  You have blessed me, Lord.  I accept responsibility for sharing your blessings with other people.  I will wait for you now to show me a specific way you want me to bless someone today.  Help me to bless people spontaneously and even unintentionally.  Please use me and my Christian community as your agents of blessing in our world.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.
With love,
Jus

Posted by Bessie on Monday, September 22nd, 2008 at 9:07 am.