‘The LORD bless you and keep you’ – Number 6:24
Most children love to receive presents and they struggle to understand that as parents it is even more fun to give them, but this year we were super blessed by our son. He had worked over the summer and for the first time had his own money available to spend at Christmas. We were truly amazed when he decided that he wanted to buy gifts for his sisters, and they were not small gifts. He actually wanted to see them super blessed and was willing to spend most of what he had earned to see the excitement on their faces and the joy of them receiving a surprise! You see we have been created in the image of the Father. We have been designed to reflect his glory and we are vessels of his love. What I realised with my son was that He was experiencing what God life really looked like. A life of love, a life of generosity, a life of choosing others first.
Remember today that the Lord’s heart is always towards you. If I could see the delight in my son as he had the opportunity to bless his younger sisters - how much more our heavenly father! He is ministered to when he blesses us. That is what brings him pleasure.
We see throughout Scripture that God loves to bless His people. It is important that we understand the enormous power in the blessings of God that are recorded in the word. When we read the Old Testament, we see how God provided instructions for how his priests were to bless the nation of Israel. Today’s verses are taken from the Aaronic blessing. For ancient Israel, the Aaronic Blessing expressed the highest state of blessing that the nation would enjoy as they were faithful to God. What I love when I study these words is that the Lord originates the blessing — The blessing itself emphasises that it is the Lord who blesses the people and does for them what they cannot do for themselves.
The application is different for you and me as New Covenant believers. Jesus Christ has already given us all of the things that are asked for in the Aaronic Blessing, and they have been granted on a permanent basis. Our direct experience of these things can fluctuate from time to time but this blessing should be a reminder of what you have in Christ today. And what is more, God’s blessing is not just about providing for our material needs, it’s about his abundant favour being released into every area of our lives. It includes our relationships, our health, our prosperity, our emotional wellbeing, our physical safety and much more. Everything that could cause us concern is taken care of by the Lord.
How do we access these blessings that the Lord has made available to us through Jesus’ finished work? Just as the Lord created the world through what he spoke forth, his blessing comes into our lives through what He declares over us. Therefore we take hold of the blessings and put our Amen to them. We come into agreement with everything that he declares and we speak it forth and through the creative power of our words we call out everything that the Lord has promised for us.
Start your day by reminding yourself what the Lord has promised you in his word and declare that you will see his blessing in every area of your life today!
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Unshakeable Hope Series – Exchange Church Belfast 2021