Be A Blessing

During a holiday many years ago, I attended a Catholic Mass with a good friend who told me what to expect and do as the service went on.  When it came time to receive communion, he encouraged me to go forward with other parishoners and cross my arms to "receive a blessing" from the priest.  In good faith I followed the advice of my friend and did something I never observed anyone else do before.  The sign of the cross being waved over me was a little thing compared to the blessing that was already provided by Christ spoken of in Psalm 32:1:  "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered."  Jeremiah 17:7 also reads, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD."  How blessed we are in Jesus Christ!

The fact a blessing is made available during mass for visitors and those unable to partake of communion demonstrates people desire blessing.  We Christians frequently pray for blessing--that God would bless food for the health of our bodies, to bless people in their travels or for God to bless the work of our hands.  God is not stingy with blessings, for the Bible is full of promises of blessing for those who fear God, trust Him and walk in His ways.  One thing we may not consider is God's desire is more than merely blessing us but to continually make us a blessing to others for His glory.  We observe this in God's words spoken to Abram in Genesis 12:2, "I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing."  Paul pointed out in Galatians 3:16, "Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “and to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “and to your Seed,” who is Christ."

Christians are justified by faith in Jesus Christ; we are now children of God and thus "...Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Gal. 3:29)  God is gracious to make us a blessing in this world and to one another as we love each another, as we use the gifts He gives us and give more grace.  Do you realise God is able to make you a blessing for others you desire for yourself?  For instance, I have observed many people who are looking for a church where they can enjoy fellowship with people their age, people with whom they have shared interests and at are a similar stage of life.  I have seen people leave a church because it lacks young people or children--only to see different young people with children attend church a week later!  Had those younger people continued going to the same church, they could have provided the blessing for others they sought for themselves.

There is a wise principle held forth by Jesus to the 70 disciples He sent out to be content with the hospitality extended to them, and He forbade them to go "house to house" in Luke 10:7.  They weren't to seek a better deal by moving around from place to place hoping for better conditions or a more honourable or affluent host.  In one sense you could say Christ's disciples were not to pursue or seek blessing for themselves but to be a blessing where God had opened a door for them to proclaim peace to a household and to be a blessing to their host.  There are many Christians who go from church to church, looking for the perfect situation and lack contentment with what is on offer--not seeming to realise God's desire could be for them to supply what lacks by their faithful service to Him!  Isn't it awesome we Christians also can be a blessing wherever God sends us because Jesus lives in and through us?