You will be a blessing – 16th November 2006

Yesterday, we imagined the grace of God flowing over us like a waterfall. We saw that Jesus is the inexhaustible supply and source of that grace and blessing.

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.

What has struck me as I have explored this theme of grace and blessing is that there is a flow, a dynamic to the pouring out of God’s love and grace. He pours out His love upon his people so that it might be then poured out to bless others.

As you go back through the Scriptures, you see this idea emerging from the earliest chapters of the bible. Perhaps it is most clearly expressed as God reveals His plans to bless Abraham.

“I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great and you will be a blessing.”  Gen 12:2.

In choosing Abraham, and then in choosing the nation of Israel, God’s intention was always to bless others.

Then the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. Gen 18:17-18

That promise has literally been fulfilled in that you and I have been blessed by God as a result of His plan and purposes working out, especially in and through His Son Jesus. We are part of the all nations that have been blessed as a result of God’s faithfulness in keeping His promises.

As you follow God’s plan of salvation through the Scriptures you will see that God pours out His blessing generously. But He never intends that we should keep it for ourselves. He wants us literally to give it away to others.

Perhaps you don’t feel like giving it away at all. Perhaps you feel like you need all the blessing you can get. Well if Jesus had chosen to stay in heaven, enjoying the presence of His Father, enjoying the glory of heaven, you and I would never have received from the fullness of His grace. It is amazing that God should use us at all to be a blessing to others but He does. And I am sure that we will be blessed ourselves as we do it. Look for some opportunity today to bless someone. Is it a day for a random act of kindness? Go on – be a blessing and give away the love and grace of God.