Will you bless me, my Father?

God loves to bless His kids!  Do you believe that? Throughout the Old Testament wealth was viewed as a blessing given by God. In a passage much misinterpreted, but never the less, full of promise for us, God says "Fear the Lord your God as long as you live. If you obey all his laws and commands, you will enjoy a long life. Listen closely, Israel, to everything I say. Be careful to obey. Then all will go well with you, and you will have many children in the land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you." (Deuteronomy 6:2-3, NLT)

We do not serve God to get rich. We do not come to Christ is to join the ‘Bless Me’ club. However, as we learn to live in obedience to Him, as we discover the joy of belonging to Him,  the blessings of God will emerge as surely as fruit grows on healthy trees.  Are His blessings only wealth?  To think that is to miss many greater gifts!  

We find peace with God because of His grace in Christ.

We are blessed with joy because our eternal home is secured by Jesus. 

We live without condemnation and guilt because we are saved from sin by the Atonement.

We are loved by our God without reservation and are therefore able to love others deeply and authentically.

We are forgiven and forgive.  The list goes on.  

I am a father and few things bring me more happiness than providing good things for my children.  I love to help them in some small way.  I love to offer sincere praise, to provide support or encouragement, even to give them gifts.  Jesus said, "If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him." (Matthew 7:11, NLT)  Look at these passages that speak of the blessings of the who live near their Father.

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers." (Psalm 1:1, NIV)

"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him." (Psalm 34:8, NIV)

"Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods." (Psalm 40:4, NIV)

"Jesus replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” (Luke 11:28, NIV)

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ." (Ephesians 1:3, NIV)

I am not a preacher of the prosperity gospel! Many wonderful Christians suffer terrible things in a world full of evil.  But, I also am firmly convinced that God desires to bless and His plan for us is good.  He has created the world so that when we live as He teaches, we generally prosper.  Curiously, that very prosperity can become a stumbling block in our spiritual development!  Moses warned Israel that the Promised Land, with all of the bounty there, would tempt them to forget the One who gave it to them.  "When God, your God, ushers you into the land he promised through your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give you, you’re going to walk into large, bustling cities you didn’t build, well-furnished houses you didn’t buy, come upon wells you didn’t dig, vineyards and olive orchards you didn’t plant. When you take it all in and settle down, pleased and content, make sure you don’t forget how you got there." (Deuteronomy 6:10-12, The Message)

Here is my counsel.  Do not chase the blessings, pursue the One who blesses! 
Listen and obey, as Moses taught Israel. And God’s blessings will follow.

This is the word from the Word.

"If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones.
But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.
And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?
And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?
No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other;
you will be devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve both God and money." (Luke 16:10-13, NLT)

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Joy In Serving Jesus

There is joy in serving Jesus,

Joy that throbs within my heart.

Every moment, every hour,

As I draw upon His Power,

There is joy, joy,

Joy that never shall depart.

There is joy in serving Jesus,

Joy that triumphs over pain!

Fills my soul with heaven's music,

‘Till I join the glad refrain.

There is joy, joy,

Joy in serving Jesus;

Joy that throbs within my heart.

Every moment, every hour,

As I draw upon His Power.

There is joy, joy,

Joy that never shall depart.

Bentley DeForest Ackley | Oswald Jeffrey Smith

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