Archie Coates, vicar of St Peter’s Brighton, speaks about how every Christian is called to be ‘a blessing machine’. It is an unusual expression, but a memorable one. Here is a great biblical principle. God blesses us in order that we might be a blessing to other people.
First, we see this in our Old Testament passage for today in the life of Abraham. God said to Abraham, ‘I will bless you … and you will be a blessing … All peoples on earth will be blessed through you’ (Genesis 12:2–3).
Second, we see it in God’s choice of Israel. God chose Abraham and his descendants. He said, ‘I will make you into a great nation’ (Genesis 12:2). They were chosen in order that all peoples on earth would be blessed through them (v.3b).
This is now God’s purpose for us. The apostle Paul writes, ‘Those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announce the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith’ (Galatians 3:7–9).
The church is blessed, like Abraham and Israel, not for its own sake but in order to bring blessing to the whole world. If we have been blessed by God, it is not for our own selfish indulgence or self-congratulation. It is in order that we can be a blessing to others.
1. Start each day waiting for directions
The psalmist writes, ‘Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favour as with a shield’ (v.12). To be righteous means to be in a right relationship with God and with others. This is the place of blessing. This is the place of God's favour.
In the psalm we have a wonderful example of how to begin each day: ‘Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly’ (vv.1–3). Or, as The Message translation puts it, ‘Waiting for directions’ (v.8).
Of course, we can pray at any time of the day or night but there is something special about the start of the day. The morning is a great moment to speak to the Lord and to lay our requests before him. Jesus taught us to pray: ‘Give us today our daily bread’ (Matthew 6:11). If we lay our requests before him in the morning the whole day has a different dimension as we ‘wait expectantly’ (Psalm 5:3).
Those who are proud and arrogant and trust in their own strength and goodness cannot stand in God’s presence (v.5). The only way we can approach God is through his great love. ‘But I, by your great love, can come into your house’ (v.7).
This is the place of blessing:
‘But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you’ (v.11).
Lord, thank you for the great blessing of being able to come into your presence morning by morning to lay our requests before you and wait in expectation. Thank you that this blessing is not just for our own sake but in order that we might bring blessing to others.
2. Live a radical life of blessing others
Jesus’ disciples were so blessed in that they were called to be his followers. Jesus continues to speak to them about the kind of life required to live in response to God’s blessing.
Living under God’s blessing involves a radical lifestyle. It challenges us to a ruthless dealing with every wrong attitude, thought, word and action.
Our words should be words of blessing, not anger. We must not speak angry words against our brothers and sisters (vv.21–22). ‘The simple moral fact is that words kill’ (v.22, MSG).
We are called to do everything within our power to bless those we have fallen out with (vv.23–26). If we remember a ‘grudge’ a friend has against us, we should go to the friend and try to ‘make things right’ (vv.23–24, MSG).
Is we encounter an ‘old enemy’ we should ‘make the first move; make things right with him’ (v.25, MSG).
Our eyes should be looking to bless others. We need to take radical action. It is not simply about the physical act of adultery. Jesus says, ‘Don’t think you’ve preserved your virtue simply by staying out of bed. Your heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body. Those leering looks you think nobody notices – they also corrupt’ (v.28, MSG).
Jesus speaks of the eye as the starting point of adultery. We need to take radical steps to avoid such a course (vv.29–30). As Job said, ‘I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman (Job 31:1).
Marriage is intended to be a place of blessing one another and a source of blessing for others. This means a life of radical faithfulness within marriage (Matthew 5:31–32). Jesus speaks against using divorce as ‘a cover for selfishness and whim’ (v.32a, MSG). ‘You can't use legal cover to mask a moral failure’ (v.32c, MSG).
If we are to be ‘blessing machines’ we have to live lives of radical integrity in which we say what we mean, and mean what we say: ‘All you need to say is simply “Yes,” or “No”; anything beyond this comes from the evil one ’ (v.37).
Blessing others means blessing even those who do bad things to us (vv.38–42). ‘Don’t hit back at all … No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously’ (vv.39,42, MSG). As Alfred Plummer put it, ‘To return evil for good is devilish; to return good for good is human; to return good for evil is divine.’
Lord, help us this year to live the Jesus lifestyle. Help us to be ruthless in dealing with every wrong attitude, thought, word and deed. Thank you for the great blessing of being called by you to be your followers. Help us to spread blessing wherever we go.
3. Live under God’s blessing, blessing those around you
God calls Abraham to leave his country, his people and his father’s household and go to the land God is going to show him (12:1). He says, ‘ “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. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” ’ (vv.2–3).
Yet Abraham was very much a flawed human being just like us. God blessed him with great wealth (13:1, MSG) and a ‘stunningly beautiful wife’ (12:14, MSG). Nevertheless, in an act of weakness and deception, he allows Pharaoh to take her as his wife (vv.10–20).
Then, after ‘quarrelling arose between Abram’s herdsmen and Lot’s’ (13:7), Abraham decides that there has to be a parting of the ways between himself and his nephew, Lot (vv.8–11). Actually, it was not Abraham and Lot who fell out – it was, as so often happens, their followers. The reality of friction in human relationships is very evident. Later on we will read of his own unfaithfulness to his wife (chapter 16). Yet God continued to bless him.
God said, ‘I’ll make your descendants like dust – counting your descendants will be as impossible as counting the dust of the Earth. So – on your feet, get moving! Walk through the country, its length and breadth; I’m giving it all to you’ (13:16–17, MSG).
It is only because of the grace of God that Abraham is promised these amazing blessings. The intention was that he would be a blessing to the whole world. Likewise for us. We are called to live under God’s blessing and bring blessing to those around us.
Lord, thank you that we are heirs of Abraham. Thank you that we are justified by faith through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you that the blessing on us is even greater than that on Abraham. Thank you that we are blessed in order to be a blessing to others. Help us this year to continue to live under your blessing, and bring as much blessing as we can to everyone around.
Pippa Adds
We all need guidance every day in all the difficult decisions of life. Following a straight path saves us wandering off wasting time and energy: ‘Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness … make straight your way before me’ (Psalm 5:8).
Comments
"It is only because of the grace of God... " This is really beautiful! Abraham, just as flawed as I am. Yet, under God's blessing we will be able to bring blessing to those around us. Thank you Lord.
You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Hi all had a brief test of this resultantly, I did not lock my bike up, and throat I shud be ok it was at church, and then I soar it gone my hart sank but I decided to tern the other check, it was amassing I was not angry with my self and had a funny type of peas, sally was mad with me but it did get me thinking about how stressed we get and how that affects owe life not shore weather I am being a push over you do knead to fight for your rights . You do this presently and other people wood affect different this is one off thaws things where you don’t follow others I think
My dotter got a job to day I’m so happy for hear just phoned yer go girl well don
Hi Mark! I think you are not a push over! I think you really DID turn the other cheek! I understand what you mean about that "funny type of peace". I was attacked on the street once, and everybody was so angry with this man, but I was not. The man who did this to me was a troubled soul, I am sure. I believe that thát is God's grace. (I mean, the fact we are not angry at moments like that; when your bike is stolen or someone hurts you.) The Lord offers it to us. Peace in our hearts. Great news about your daughter! Wish her good luck from the Netherlands. Kind regards, Annette
Great news - congratulations to your daughter from me too! Lucy x
I just love the fact that God funnels his divine blessings & love through us to the people around us... and at the same time He overwhelms our lives & hearts with unknown & abundant mercy!