God’s Blessing
God’s blessing. Who among us doesn’t want THAT? To be blessed by the Almighty. To be graced by the Lord. To experience His limitless favor.
In today’s reading, Abram (later known as Abraham) is chosen by God to receive unbelievable blessings. But notice that God not only promises “I will bless you,” He then quickly adds “and you will BE a blessing” (Gen. 12:2, emphasis added).
It’s important for us to remember that simple truth. We are to be conduits of divine favor. God graces us so that we can share His grace with others. With divine blessing comes great responsibility to those around us.
Jesus says essentially the same thing in today’s New Testament reading, when he commands His followers (that’s US!): “You are the light of the world….let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14, 16).
It’s a good challenge for all of us at CCC today: to take the resources God has given us, and use them for eternal kingdom purposes.
What do you have from God that you can share with others?
This question is specific to today’s Genesis reading, but feel free to comment here also on any of the other readings throughout the week.
Today’s reading in Proverbs reminds me that we can choose our actions or we can choose or consequences…but we cannot choose both. The wise man will choose Godly consquences and steer his life accordingly with godly actions. Proverbs warns us that the fool chooses foolish and short-term choices and reaps the consequences of long-term pain.
As the dude in the Indiana Jones movie said, “Choose wisely.”
Thanks for the word Byron!
I wanted to make an observation or two about the Genesis readings from this week. I’ve always loved Genesis, but it’s amazing how every time you read through a section of the Bible you realize (or maybe God shows you!) something that you didn’t see before. To me, the beginning of Genesis is like the beginning of Monty Python and the Holy Grail– it’s just one great scene after another.
Here’s a couple of things I hadn’t ever really thought about before:
How did everyone know about sacrifices, clean animals, that you (or your son) would get cursed for seeing your father’s nakedness when he is passed out drunk? Before the law, how did people know God’s laws? The obvious solution is that “God told them,” but it’s just an interesting idea to me. Who did God tell? Just Adam, and then he passed it down, or did God tell other people along the way?
Another thing. I didn’t realize that Methuselah (as far as I know, the oldest recorded person in the Bible) likely died in the flood. At least that’s what the math tells me. But that got me thinking about the people who died in the flood. Noah’s grandfather was apparently among them. For some reason I have always pictured Noah alone in a world of hostile strangers. It’s (a little) easier for me to think of evil strangers dying– but how many of Noah’s siblings, nieces, nephews, etc. died in the flood? How do you deal with seeing your friends and extended family, (as well as strangers) wiped out in one fell swoop?
Interesting post i totally agree with the comments above. Keep writing