And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. (Genesis 12:2)
There’s no question that God is a good and loving heavenly Father who knows our needs and delights to bless us with what we need (Matthew 6:31-33). It is equally true that He loves and cares for others and blesses us so we may be a channel by which He blesses others. He blesses us so that we may be a blessing to others. This truth is illustrated in Genesis 12:2, the opening verse of this devotion. God promised to bless Abraham (v2a) so Abraham would be a blessing (v2b). He wanted to bless Abraham but that’s not all that He wanted. He also wanted to bless all the peoples of the earth through Abraham (Genesis 12:3). This is ultimately fulfilled in the Person of the Lord Jesus, a descendant of Abraham.
We see this pattern repeated elsewhere in Scriptures. For example, God comforts us so that we may be able to comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:4). God reconciles us to Himself, so we are able to appeal to others to be reconciled to Him (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). God provides for us financially so we may be generous in giving to the needy (2 Corinthians 9:8-12).
You and I have been richly blessed by God. We have air to breathe and clean water to drink. We have a roof over our heads and don’t need to worry about our next meal. We have the love and support of family and friends. We have an effective government and live in peace, safety, security and comfort. Above all, we enjoy the gift of salvation. God loves us, our sins are forgiven and we’re at peace with Him. He is our Father, and we are His children. And if we lack anything that is needed, we can ask Him for what we need with faith (Psalm 67) and know that He’ll provide all our needs (Philippians 4:19).
There’s no question we are blessed. The question is how we can be a blessing. Bless others:
• By sharing what we have with those in need. The financial and material blessings that God has given us are for us to steward and to use to meet others’ needs (2 Corinthians 8:14).
• By helping those facing problems, spending time with them, encouraging and comforting them, praying and interceding for them and extending practical help to them. In this way, we fulfil the “royal law” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4; James 2:8; Luke 10:29-37).
• By praying blessings on others in Jesus’ name, including the pre-believers you meet during the Chinese New Year season (Luke 10:5). You are a priest of God and God will bless those that you bless if they believe and receive your blessing (1 Peter 2:9; Luke 10:6).
• By sharing testimonies of God’s blessings in your life with others and by sharing the Gospel with them so they may receive the gift of salvation (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). This ultimately is what God desires when He blesses us; that they might be saved (Psalm 67:1-2)!
So, let’s take hold of every opportunity to be a blessing during this Chinese New Year period, and throughout the year, because this is what He has called us to (1 Peter 3:9).
DAILY MEDITATIONS:
Monday: Numbers 6:23-26
“Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Tuesday: Luke 10:5-6a
Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him.
Wednesday: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Thursday: 2 Corinthians 9:8, 11
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
Friday: 2 Corinthians 5:18
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
Saturday: Psalm 67:1-2 (NASB)
God be gracious to us and bless us,
And cause His face to shine upon us— Selah.
That Your way may be known on the earth,
Your salvation among all nations.
Sunday: 1 Peter 3:9
Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
Unless otherwise stated, all scriptures are quoted from the English Standard Version (ESV).
By Pastor Yong Tai Tong
