Random Acts Of Blessing

Read: Numbers 6:22-27

[God said,] “Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.” Numbers 6:27

IN WORD

“May the LORD . . .” Three phrases begin this way in the blessing God gave Aaron to say over Israel. The blessing invokes God’s protection, pleasure, grace, favor, and peace. It is an expression of His goodness on the people in general and on whomever the priest might specifically choose. The priest could speak it “whenever”—no limits, no specific events, no regulations. It was a benedictory free-for-all. And God promised to honor these words.

We might see such a blessing as a nice thought or best wishes, a pleasantry in conversation that may or may not carry any weight. But in God’s economy, words of blessing are concrete, the currency of actual experience. They are the powerful answer to a world that lies under a curse, drawing God’s favor both to the blesser and the blessed. They bring heaven to earth. According to God, they are profoundly effective.

How often do we take advantage of this powerful Kingdom privilege? Human nature prompts us to withhold blessing from those we disagree with, those who offend us, or those we simply don’t know very well. We want to bless those we love. But freely and indiscriminately? We’re much more reserved with our goodwill. We want to know who we’re dealing with. We can be very discriminating in our blessings.

IN DEED

God uses the blessings of His priests—all who love and serve Him in the power of His Spirit—to step into lives. For whatever reason, He generally intervenes in this world to the degree we ask Him to. Blessings are an open invitation for Him to step in and target the people who need Him most. Why would we withhold that from anyone?

Make it a point to bless people—as they pass by you on the street, pull in front of you in traffic, carry out their business all around you, wherever. Whether they hear it or not isn’t the point; God does. He will honor your words, build His Kingdom, and change lives. Including yours.

ADDITIONAL READING: Numbers 23:20

Words that do not give the light of Christ increase the darkness.

MOTHER TERESA