By Dr. Kerry Knight, Emerald Beach Church of Christ
It’s so refreshing to hear someone say, “Have a blessed day.” It may sound a little hokey and insincere to some, but the Bible speaks of it frequently. The word “blessed” is given over 300 times in the scriptures, and that does not include other forms of the word, such as “bless,” “blessing,” and “blessedness.” We might seek to extend someone a blessing, but only God Himself can deliver, and He does, in fact, seek to bless His people. “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26).
Beginning in the first chapter of Genesis, the Almighty bestows numerous blessings on His creation.
In the twelfth chapter of Genesis, God calls Abraham to leave the idolatrous country of Chaldea so that he might create a new nation of monotheism. “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you” (Genesis 12:2).
“May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace” (Psalms 29:11).
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed US with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).
You will notice in the above passages, and many, many more that we have no time to mention, the blessings from God flow to those who are HIS PEOPLE and those who are IN CHRIST.
Our response to God and our relationship with Him are both important. God does not bless those who reject Him. Did God bless those who crucified His Son? When the Jewish mob who called for His execution, recorded in the second chapter of Acts, came to their senses and were told to “repent and be baptized for the remission of sin” (Acts 2:38), did they receive God’s blessings of salvation and the promise of the Holy Spirit.
We are blessed of God when we give Him our life. “Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord” (Proverbs 16:20).
