WATCHWORD:
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turned his face toward you and give you peace. Numbers 6:22-27
Meditation:
Blessings
Throughout the pages of the Bible there are multiple blessings which are part of prayers and prophecies. These blessings are often associated with protection, help, and happiness. The blessings that come through scripture are meant to protect us, to guide us to the path of righteousness, and to give us hope. These blessings we, as children of God, can claim and apply according to the guidance given by our Lord.
In Paul’s letter to the Philippians we find this blessing: “May God supply every need of yours according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
Paul is telling us that God promises that as we follow our Lord, we will be blessed. And when is says, “God will supply all your needs”, the Almighty is likely to have a different picture of what we need, rather than what we want.
In the book of James we have this blessing: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17
This is a beautiful sentence, somewhat musical in nature. Multiple gifts are implied here, one gift is the act of sharing the bounty you have received, while the second gift is a character trait or the mindset of generosity. The last phrase is saying to us that our giving is not based on our gain or judgments made, but given, freely and with joy.
In the book of Luke we have this familiar blessing: “Give and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put in your lap. For with the measure to use it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38
This blessing it’s part of Jesus continuing to explain how followers should treat those who oppose them. The instruction is actually to let go of the instinct to judge other people and their actions and what they say and to forgive others. They should love those who oppose them, bless them and pray for them. This is often a difficult task for us because too often we are hurt by others actions and words, and to follow Jesus runs counter to our human instincts. Regardless. Jesus tells us to forgive or give anyway, and don’t expect anything in return. Being a Christian is not an easy path.
Many of the blessings touch us where we live and give us a sense of His presence, His graces, and, in turn, His Peace. I believe that we all have our favorite blessing found within scripture. I favor Philippians 4:7 – And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. It’s that peace of God that is at the heart of what we seek each moment of our lives, and the truth is that it dwells within us. So be it.
Prayer:
Lord God, we praise your name! We are so grateful that you have put your name on us through Christ Jesus. Through your gift of the Holy Spirit, our seal in Christ, we look to you and desire to be a people after your heart. Protect us from pride, deceit, and lies that seek to destroy our faith and trust in you. We are grateful that you are with us, Lord, and know that nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Now may the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. Amen.
