Power of Blessing

"Look to Abraham your father

and to Sarah who bore you;

for he was but one when I called him,

that I might bless him and multiply him."

Isaiah 51:2 ESV

It started with one man.  The one became many and grew into a nation.  How?  Was there something special about Abraham?  No.  He was a man like any other man.  God set him apart, though, by choosing him to be the father of many, and it was through God's sovereign plan that he was blessed for the Lord's holy purposes (Genesis 12:1-3).  This blessing of God literally changed the whole world (Genesis 22:17-18)!

Jesus came through the line of David that can be traced back to this one man, Abraham (Matthew 1).  And it is Jesus who delivered the blessing of life eternal and abundant to all nations (John 3:16, 10:10).  So when I do as Abraham did and trust God with my life through faith in Jesus Christ, this blessing that flowed down from this ancient man transforms my life.  

 Little Becomes Big.  I live in the land of large; hefty portions, grandiose dreams, great expectations, full calendars, lots of stuff.  Americans seem to subscribe to the belief that the more there is, the better.  Therefore, I tend to think if I am going to put the effort into something, anything, it must be big if it is to have an impact or be worth my time.

Consequently, I take this mindset into God's kingdom and assume that whatever I do for God must be big if it is to make a difference.  Far-reaching ministries, growing numbers, complicated programs; whatever I do, it must have spectacular results! Or so I think.  In reality, its the quality of fruit about which my Father is concerned, and only that which is produced as a result of working in tandem with Jesus will last (John 15:1-5, 16).  Therefore, a little faith placed in a mighty God will change the world, even if I can't detect the impact my faith has (Luke 17:6).

My little becomes big when it is done by faith in Jesus.

Lowly Becomes Great.  I live in a world that strives for greatness.  Whatever I do I've learned that it won't amount to a hill of beans unless I reach the top, succeed in accomplishing my goals or progress further today than I was yesterday.  What good is writing a book unless it is a bestseller?  Why would I work long hours expect for to climb up higher on the corporate ladder?  I do my best so that I can be promoted, get a raise, receive the accolades of my peers in my chosen industry, right?  The world teaches me to strive for prominence, renown, even fame.  

Consequently, I take this mindset into God's kingdom and become ambitious, finding myself striving for more, not settling for the small jobs but always working my way toward that top position.  I assume my goal should be to move up, while God structured the Body of Christ to work differently, with each of us doing our very best in honor of Him no matter what the job (1 Corinthians 12:12-26).  And so it is my attitude while doing what God has called for me to do at this very moment that matters to Him.  And when I humble myself for the glory of God and clean the toilets with gusto, wipe the runny noses with compassion, listen to the forgotten generation with patience and understanding, I am great in His eyes (Luke 9:48, Matthew 23:11-12)!

My lowly service becomes great when done in honor of Jesus.

Broken Becomes Whole.  I live in a place that breaks even the strongest, that destroys the will to live, that toys with my emotions as I experience letdown after letdown.  I work hard only to experience failure, to endure hardship, to find failure.  I love wholeheartedly only to experience loss, to endure heartache, to find betrayal.  I do what is right only to experience disappointment, to endure letdown, to find ruin.  And so I learn to put up a wall of protection.  I adapt by expecting the worst and hoping for the best.  I get comfortable with the brokenness of my soul.

Consequently, I take this mindset into God's kingdom and get used to the broken nature of this world.  The thing is, Jesus' mission is all about turning the ashes of my life into astounding beauty, weaving the shreds that are left into a breathtaking tapestry, reassembling the remains into a gorgeous masterpiece (Isaiah 61:3).  He is here to restore, to make new, to build up which is quite the opposite of what I've learned to expect in this physical realm that moves toward chaos and is marching steadily toward decay.  Jesus goes against the second law of thermodynamics and creates something out of nothing, improves that which seems hopeless, builds up what has been torn down.  In His hands, the broken becomes whole (Matthew 15:30-31).

My brokenness becomes whole when entrusted in the hands of Jesus.

It all started with one man, chosen by God and blessed through his obedience.  As a result, I now stand as a beneficiary of God's great promise made thousands of years ago to a childless man and his wife.  Through Abraham came Jesus, the One sent from above to change the world.  And by turning away from my old, sinful ways and to Him by faith, I discover a new economy at work.  I find that my little becomes big, even lowly service is seen as great, and all that is broken is restored to wholeness.  In these ways and more, I am experiencing the power of God's blessing!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to receive His blessing that comes through Jesus.

When do I block this blessing by living as if Jesus didn't exist?

How am I striving for greatness instead of seeking to obey God?