Skip to main content

Blessing

 “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” (Number 6:24-26)

 

Today’s passage is the blessing Aaron was to give the Israelites. As I think about good decisions, and about what I want to do in the coming year, blessing is a good word. As I think about it, it might be a step in a good direction, because it seems to me that this time of year is normally one in which I’m thinking more in terms of “bow the knee.” There’s part of me that is now sitting back in astonishment and thinking, “Hey, that’s right, I’m not depressed.” The truth be told, I think I’m too tired to be depressed.

But… blessings. Gary Smalley listed the following components of blessing: a meaningful touch, a spoken message of love and acceptance, attaching “high value” to the person, picturing a special future for the person, and actively committing to fulfill the blessing. I don’t see all of those elements in the blessing Aaron was told to give the Israelites. It leaves out the meaningful touch, and an active commitment to fulfill the blessing. But what it adds is so much more important: God’s commitment to fulfill the blessing.

As I read Mr. Smalley’s list, I also think of Gary Chapman’s five love languages: words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time, and physical touch. They aren’t quite the same, but close. I’m willing to argue that blessing and loving are at least siblings, maybe two sides of the same coin.

Mr. Smalley wants all five elements in each blessing. Mr. Chapman says we are better at one than at the others. I prefer Mr. Chapman’s version because failure to do one part of the blessing that Mr. Smalley describes would seem to make the blessing itself a failure.

I like the blessing Aaron was taught even better, because it brings God into the picture. I’m thinking I’m going to put it on an index card and make it my prayer as I walk.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The List

              Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,   through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;   perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)           Think about it. We have been justified. At least, we could be justified if we stopped insisting that our justification be based on our merits. We have peace with God, or could have peace if we stopped throwing temper tantrums. We have gained access into grace i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Listen!

  While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5)            Do you like roller coasters? I don't. You spend forever climbing a hill. You get to the top and have half a second, then you race down to a low point. Sometimes the racing down involves tying your insides into knots. At the bottom, you either have to be dragged up another hill or you get off the ride. Peter's life was a roller coaster from the time he met Jesus. There would be miracles, and then Jesus would teach things that didn't always make sense, and then they'd go out and perform miracles, and return to be taught. Peter was praised for giving the right answer to "Who do you say that I am?" Jesus said that said answer came from God. Peter was at the top of the hill.            ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Prayer Lists

                 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (I Peter 2:2-3)   In connection with what I wrote yesterday about the possibility that I’m wrong, I’m feeling the need to go back to basics - craving spiritual milk because somehow, I missed something. It’s a little embarrassing, craving milk like a newborn, but the truth probably is that we are newborns many times in many ways in our lives. From God’s perspective, we may never be anything more than newborns, forever needing that milk. On the other hand, being a newborn can also be exciting because so much is new. My mind is playing pinball - ricocheting from one idea to the next and through six more before it happens to hit the third again. The main topic is prayer. I have at least seven organizing structures all somewhat influenced by the movie War Room , which I’v...
Post a Comment
Read more