Daily Reading: 30 May

(from www.christianaid.org.uk)

Don’t just bless, be a blessing.

Something to read

The Lord bless you and keep you.

- Numbers 6:24.

Something to think about

Way back in Genesis, the book of beginnings, God calls Abraham to leave his country and kindred and go to the land he will give him (Genesis 12:1-3).

His promise to Abraham centres not on the land however, but on the fact that through him and his descendants God wants to bless all the families of the earth.

Jump forward to Moses and the Israelites in the wilderness. Here God gives to Aaron, through Moses, a similar instruction, which is to bless.

Although the blessing in the form of a prayer is meant initially for the Israelites, nevertheless like Abraham, the call is that Israel – and later the church – would be the means by and through which God would bless his world.

What is a blessing? It is to receive something wonderful from God. To know that in God there is security (The Lord…keep you); that he looks on us with loving favour (..shine upon you…be gracious to you).

It is to know that God is always looking for you (…lifts up his countenance) longing for reconciliation and relationship (…give you peace).

Our calling, as Christians, is to take up the calling given to Abraham and Israel and be a means by which God blesses his creation.

We are to bless everyone – just as God longs to – and whether it is the poor, those who mourn, or hunger and thirst after righteousness, then they too, says Jesus, can and should be blessed (Matthew 5:1-12).

Something to do

Think about how you can be a blessing to others. What can you do or say that would encourage them to know that God loves them and longs to bless them?

In some churches when the offering is given, the priest receives it at the altar or Lord’s Table and asks God to bless what has been given. Why not develop or extend that idea so that when you next give to someone, for example Christian Aid, you ask God to bless what you give, in order that it will be seen as a blessing from God by whoever receives it?

Something to pray

Lord, please bless what I give so that it will be a blessing to whoever receives it. Amen.

Today's reading is by Rev Mark Williams, minister in St James’ Church, Uplands, Swansea, Diocese of Brecon and Swansea.