Christian Living

The Full Range of Blessings

by paul hoffmaster
03/20/22
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I was thinking about the blessings that I have experienced throughout my life.  Taking the words of John and using them to illustrate those blessings would still not cover all of them.  “I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen!” (John 21:25) I know that I have taken this verse out of context, but it basically gives the reader a general idea of how much I have been blessed over the years.  I love to hear Believers share how the Lord has blessed them.  I remember years ago people would look forward to the mid-week service where people would rise to their feet and proclaim how they were blessed as a result of the compassion and love of Jesus.  The range of emotions filled the sanctuary; tears, laughter, peace, jubilance, and physical expressions flowed through the room.  Pastors had to try and limit participation for if they didn’t, it was no telling how long it would go on.  Oh, for those days again.

I know Believers are blessed, but I wonder if God is blessed by our actions.  I wonder how many disciples have been a blessing to Jesus?  Have our actions caused rejoicing in Heaven?  What have we done to reflect our horizontal actions into a vertical expression of praise and adoration?  If you have ever been to Niagara, New York, and witnessed the Falls, you were impressed with its power and might.  As the waters hit the bottom of the Falls, a heavy mist rose up, climbing the falls in response.  Out of the midst of the waters, one would see a rainbow.  What a beautiful illustration of the blessings of God; God pouring out His love for His children, and His children responding with adoration and praise.  If you ever took the boat excursion that takes you close to the Falls, you experienced the mist first hand.  As you looked around at the other people, you felt a unity with them as we all experienced one of the great miracles of nature.  When Christians gather to share the blessings of our loving Savior, it will not be long before we all begin to focus on Him with our praises and adoration! 

We have all been blessed, but have we all been a blessing to the Lord?  Luke’s letter to Theophilus stresses the importance of financial giving, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)  Could we possibly apply this Scripture to receiving and giving blessings?  Could we come to a place in which we are more concerned with blessing God than we are in receiving His blessings?  Is not our life to be centered on pleasing God?  The Bible teaches that through Faith we please Him. (Hebrew 11:6)  To please means to gratify entirely.  God is blessed and pleased through our actions.   Believers are blessed and pleased through God’s reaction to our obedience. The book of Psalms is also known as the “Praise Book.” 

I have come to a place in my life where I have received so much from Him, that all I want to do is be a blessing to Him.  It is no longer what God can do for me, but rather, what can I do to show my appreciation and unending love.  May we all join David in saying, “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name.” (Psalm 103:1)