I simply cannot speak on what it means to be blessed without mentioning Abraham. According to the Bible, He was one of the first people God blessed. The first human God blessed was Adam in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 1:28 says, “And God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply.” The next thing God blessed was the Sabbath Day. It is written that He sanctified the seventh day, which means God made it holy, and we know the very definition of the word ‘blessed’ is to make holy or consecrated.
Next, in Genesis 9:1, God blessed Noah and his sons by once again commanding them to be fruitful and multiply. Then, finally, we see where God blessed Abraham. The blessing of Abraham was unlike the blessings of others because Abraham’s blessing transcended himself. Genesis 12:2-3 reads:
“I will make you a great nation;I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
God said He would bless Abraham and that in Abraham, all the families of the earth would be blessed. God also told Abraham that he himself would be a blessing and that his name would be great. Every time we see God promising a blessing to someone before Abraham, it consists of multiplying the earth through procreation. Their blessing was only about filling the earth. But Abraham's blessing included much more.
But what was so special about Abraham? Why did God decide to bless him in that way? I’m reminded of what transpired in the Book of Numbers when Balaam wanted to curse God’s people through Balak. Balaam asked Balak to curse God’s people three times to no avail. In Numbers 23:19-20 God said, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not make good? Behold, I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.”
God’s people were blessed because God said they would be. It’s just that simple. Abraham was blessed because God said he would be blessed. We live in a world where good rewards are not often given without effort. Even God usually requires effort for His great rewards to be distributed to His people. Indeed, eternal life and earthly blessings are not received without putting forth the effort to walk in the Spirit. However, there are times when the Lord blesses simply because He chooses to. We did not earn the gift that is Christ Jesus. We’re simply blessed by God’s gift to the world because He loves us … and what a beauty it is to be blessed just because God says so.
To be blessed, whether with effort or without it, is an honor. It is my prayer that you will be blessed—that you will be holy and consecrated unto God. But I also pray that God will bless you with the things that are in your heart if the desire is according to His will. If God blessed Abraham’s descendants as He did then, He can bless his descendants today.
When we look at Deuteronomy 28, God promised exceedingly great blessings to Abraham’s offspring. God said, “If you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth, and all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God.” (Deuteronomy 28:1-2).
After reading how the Lord promised to bless the seeds of Abraham, I am left in awe of God’s graciousness—at how amazingly well the Lord promised to bless imperfect people. “Blessed shall you be in the city, blessed shall you be in the field…blessed shall be the fruit of your body … blessed shall you be when you come and go.” The promised blessings of God extend from verse three to verse thirteen, and they are nothing short of divine prosperity. What a wonderful thing God gave them. But when I read Galatians 3:29, I see that if we are Christ’s, we are also Abraham's seed.
So, since we are no less God’s chosen people than God’s original chosen people through Abraham, wouldn’t God be willing to bless us in the same way if we believe through faith, just as they did? God still blesses undeserved people today… I am a living witness! God has blessed, is blessing, and will continue to bless His people. It’s simply in His character to do so.
Yet, let us be mindful that to be blessed is not only about receiving blessings. Christ told us, “It is more blessed to give than it is to receive,” in Acts 20:35. It is holier to give to others than to receive. Of course, there are various ways to bless others with our giving. We bless others by offering our thoughts and prayers. We bless by spending time with those who need company or companionship. We bless by distributing our finances as God blesses us. We bless others, not necessarily because we are compassionate, but because God said we would. Genesis 22:18 reads, " ... and through your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed ..."
God promised that we, the descendants of Abraham would bless the earth. He promised it! And we know that He cannot lie; therefore, if you are Christ's, you will bless the nations through the power of God that works in you. We are the light of the world, and the salt of the earth called to bring brilliance and flavor to this dark, bitter world. We bless the nations by representing Christ well and proclaiming what we have received in Christ to others. It is an honor to be part of God’s salvation plan and to help those who have not found the Way.
So, be a blessing. Shine your light before men to glorify your Father in heaven and to help someone in need. Become what it truly means to be blessed and to be a blessing. Reader, this concludes the “To Be Blessed” Series. I hope it has been a blessing to you. Remain holy and receive every good thing God has in store for you while fulfilling the prophecy of being a blessing to the world as Abraham’s seed and God’s chosen people. Farewell for now! Lord’s will, I’ll see you in the new year.
Until then, God bless you. Take care.
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Have a blessed day!
Reading this series within itself has been a true blessing! May God continue to bless you as you continue to work for Him! I love you my daughter!😊✨🙏🏾