Logos: Genesis 12:1-2

12:1 Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.
12:2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

Years ago - no, more than you're thinking - many years ago, I was a Bethel Bible teacher. Preparing to do that meant taking a two year class that met 2.5 hours a week, homework, and a whole lot of reading and thinking.  I loved it. Growing up, I always wanted to be a teacher, and this was a cool way to prepare to do it - plus I love Bible study.

After I completed that training, I led a class. We met weekly, 1 hour a week, for six 6-week sessions. A big commitment for those who took part. But a blessing - I know for me, I hope for the students, too.

One of the basic themes in the Bethel curriculum is from this verse - you are blessed to be a blessing. It stuck with me from that time, even now. 

What does it mean to the way you approach discipleship and stewardship if you believe that you have been blessed for the purpose of being a blessing? 

Last week I preached in Wheeling. Before worship, I received an email from a former student in the Bethel class that I taught. It said, "You have been blessed to be a blessing." It was meant to be encouragement as I prepared to teach, and it was.

If you believe you have been blessed for the purpose of blessing others, then first of all, you recognize the blessings that you have been given - the gifts you have, the time you have, the opportunities you have.  For me, it provided a reminder that I was in that place in that time because God (and others) believed I had the gifts to do what I was about to do. Realizing that you are blessed creates confidence. Secondly, knowing that their is a purpose in what I am doing - to be a blessing - creates trust. It's not me who will bless others - it's God, through me. I can trust that God will act in ways I don't anticipate or understand because I say that I will step out and serve. The blessing that will happen isn't based on my abilities - but on the gifts I have been given and on the action of God through me. Thirdly, knowing that there is a "so that" in what is happening pushes me to say "yes" to God. I have an obligation (which becomes a joy) to serve.

You have been blessed (yes, you have), to be a blessing. You have been given the gifts to do what you are called to do, you can trust God to work through you, and you have a responsibility to act on what you have been given. Seize the opportunities before you, and experience joy. 

As God told Abram, "Go."

As God told Abram, "Go."

#Blessed

Last Sunday, I attended worship at a different church because we were doing a presentation at the church after worship. The sermon topic was "#Blessed."

I loved the thoughts expressed in the sermon - so much that I took notes and want to share them with you.

Blessings are not evidenced by what we consider to be success. Our new car, our home - these are not what God would consider to be blessings. In fact, Jesus has blessed everyone. Think about that. Jesus was crucified, died and buried. He rose again, and in this action, everyone was blessed.

Look around. Who do you consider to be blessed? It doesn't work the way we think. God's kingdom is a different place. God blesses everyone - not just the righteous or those who (whom?) we think have earned it.

All are blessed. In fact, there is nothing you can do to eliminate God's affirmation of you. Blessing is our identity - our condition. It is who we are.

You are blessed. Look around and find God's blessings in your life. Where do you find evidence of the presence of God?

(Hattip to Rev. Angela Gay Kinkead)

Are we blessed?

Have you ever thought of the word "blessed?" Have you ever said, "I am so blessed?" What are your blessings?

We were having this discussion in Sunday school, and someone said, "I am conflicted by the idea that all that I have is a blessing from God when there are so many who have nothing. Why would I consider my home, my job, my belongs to be blessings? If they are, then why would God bless me and not the child who is hungry?"

There are many possible answers to that question. For me, I think it comes down to how we define "blessing" - what is a gift from God? Is it our house? Or is it our desire to share what we have so that the hungry child has food? Is it the material items that we have, or is it the gifts we have been given to do the work of God? The desire to do the work of God? 

If I win the lottery, is it a blessing or a curse? I think there is evidence to support either statement, but what I actually believe is that it is neither. The blessing from God is that I can be led to use the winnings in a way that is good and not evil.

And that's a blessing that God shares with all of us.

Blessed

Have you ever thought of the word "blessed?" Have you ever said, "I am so blessed?" What are your blessings?

We were having this discussion in Sunday school, and someone said, "I am conflicted by the idea that all that I have is a blessing from God when there are so many who have nothing. Why would I consider my home, my job, my belongs to be blessings? If they are, then why would God bless me and not the child who is hungry?"

There are many possible answers to that question. For me, I think it comes down to how we define "blessing" - what is a gift from God? Is it our house? Or is it our desire to share what we have so that the hungry child has food? Is it the material items that we have, or is it the gifts we have been given to do the work of God? The desire to do the work of God? 

If I win the lottery, is it a blessing or a curse? I think there is evidence to support either statement, but what I actually believe is that it is neither. The blessing from God is that I can be led to use the winnings in a way that is good and not evil.

And that's a blessing that God shares with all of us.

Bless

Today's word is bless.

This is a sun catcher in my office window -- a gift from a friend.  I'm not sure if you can see the writing on it or not, but it says, "Let your light shine."  We have been blessed to be a blessing. 

The word prompt is a verb.  Bless.  I could have photographed blessings, but those are nouns.  I wanted something that conveyed the action of bless. 

Let your light shine.  Go, bless.

Obligation?

Welcome to Jeff, a guest sandblogger. Jeff is a dear friend and a gifted writer. He has a great sense of humor, and he walks with God. Thank you to Jeff.



Kim is serving on the team of an Emmaus Walk this weekend, so she invited me to be one of the guest bloggers. Her invitation is a gift to me, and my response is “yes!” And in this context, I am thinking about obligations.

During my Wednesday morning prayer group, Ken asked us to consider whether our attendance and involvement in church was out of a sense of obligation. The easy answer for me was “no.” I went on to say that I go out of a sense of commitment. My parents led me to church but never once dragged me. When I got to the age where I could make a choice, they allowed me the freedom to stay home. Sometimes I took them up on the offer and slept in.

The question about obligation stuck with me because earlier in the week I had received an e-mail that closed with “Much obliged.” I think the sender of the e-mail meant her closing as an informal “thanks,” but it is more than thanks, isn’t it? It means, “I owe you” or “I am indebted to you.” So that idea was already on my mind when Ken asked the question about church attendance. What does it mean to do something out of obligation? It has a negative connotation to me for something that is forced on me that I do not want to do, like, say homework or preparing tax returns.

You might say that everything we have is a gift from God, and we owe it to God—we have an obligation to respond to God’s grace by at least showing up for worship once a week. I’m “much obliged” to God; I am indebted to God for the gift of life and everything else; I am obligated to worship God.

I love words, and there is so much power in words. You think you know what “obligate” means? Check out the etymology. It comes from the Latin root obligare which means, literally “to bind to.” Think about how a life in community with Christ binds us together with God and each other in love.

I have re-thought my misunderstanding of “obligation.” Yes, I go to church out of obligation. Not that I must go, but that I just cannot not go.

Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.