“Blessed to BE a blessing.”
Haven’t we heard it numerous times?
But, what does that mean?
Yes, 1 Timothy 5 vs 8 tells us to take responsibility for our families, but does our Christian mandate stop there with us banging our chests as we mouth the mantra, “Charity begins at home”?
Yes, Jesus has given us our marching orders to preach the Good News, but is it Good News if there is no evidence of the News changing lives?
James, seems to have the answer in James 2 vs 14-17.
This concept of the Christian Mandate travels back far. Right to the Old Testament. We are called to preach the Good News both with our mouths but so too with actions that God calls just and righteous. Isaiah 58 is a prolific rebuke from God about those who fast with the intent of seeming pious, but yet ignore the plight of God’s Children- which is all of us that God patiently holds back Judgement Day in the home that ALL will repent and be saved.
But, blessed to be a blessing travels even further back in human history. in Genesis 28, God is repeating His desire for those that follow Him to reach outwards, beyond just our immediate family, and reach lives in communities, nation, country, and planet, that ALL may see the love of Christ both in Spirit and Truth- Word and Action. Notice Genesis 28 vs 14(b), “all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” God is a God of mutuality-consciousness that cares for the greater good as well as the individual who is called into purpose to serve God by reaching others. Genesis 28 bs 15(b), reminds us that God’s Mandate of uplifting the poor, downtrodden, oppressed, and indoctrinated deceived has never changed and will never change until Jesus Returns- “For I will not leave until I have done what I have promised you.”
But, this repetition of God’s Mandate to reach the world through us comes to us through Abraham.
Notice the clauses given in Genesis 12 vs 1-3. To follow God and do His Mandate will require leaving behind the things that limit us and stuck in comfort zones that find belonging in cultural indoctrination, tribal mentality, and even may mean separating from family whose agendas may be psychological control to keep up appearances within a community of ‘blind leading the blind’.
Again, however, God’s Mandate is that His blessing on us, has a purpose beyond us- blessed to BE a blessing.
In our consumerist lifestyle that feeds off our unresolved insecurities, we are busy spinning our wheels on acquisitions to be seen as blessed, favoured, and accepted, that we forget that THEE QUESTION we all need to be asking God continuously is, “Father, this blessing that You have given me, is it for me or others, and if others, how do you want me to use this blessing to bless others for Your Love to be seen practically and spiritually?”
Jesus teaches us plainly about our Christian Mandate, Matthew 25 vs 35-40.
God, who doesn’t change, has bestowed upon Abraham and all of us since the same Mandate to be people who bring justice, and relief for His Creation through preaching the Good News with actions that practically change lives too. Gods has given us a purpose. That purpose is be the hands, feet, and mouths that reach the lost, which is our active worship that isn’t just singing worship songs in church.
In rehab, on the exit door a sign hung that read, “The real service begins now.”
Church is wonderful, necessary, and my best part of my week. However, if what we learn in church doesn’t translate across the borders of church ground, we have missed the foundational instruction of starting to be blessed to be a blessing, which is, “GO.”
Prayer:
Father God, please forgive me for keeping blessing to myself. Help me to change this behaviour by helping me to see the work of blessing others You want me to do for You. Help me to do it well. In Your Holy Name Messiah King Jesus. AMEN.
#Hayibo 