Think about this for a second – what do you think of when I say “God will bless you?” Do you think of money? Do you think of health or healing?
I suspect that most people hear “God will bless you” as “God will make you rich.” In fact I would go so far as to say that there are probably even some who tithe because we think God will make them rich (of course, you know better than that).
But that misses the point of a blessing. A blessing is when God releases supernatural forces to work in your favor (I “borrowed” this from my pastor). It is a gift from God. It might be a something you’ve asked for and expected. Or God might just totally blow your mind. In fact, I bet God wants to totally blow your mind.
Oh, how we need God’s grace! How we need his perspective when it comes to blessings. I fear that we so often think of blessings only as financial or material.
Money Can’t Buy This
Today I was able to witness one of the biggest blessings I’ve seen in a while. It’s not the kind of blessing that we normally think of, but a blessing none-the-less. In fact, it might be a bigger, more substantial blessing than we would first think. But it was definitely a blessing that money simply can’t buy.
A Prodigal Returns
Earlier today I was at Church. I was with the fellowship of believers worshiping God and proclaiming his name. And as part of that I was able to witness a baptism (not in the Pacific Ocean like the picture above). Now, I think baptisms are always a really cool thing. They are a space for God’s grace through obedience. They are a place to meet God and to be transformed into his image. But for many in our body, this wasn’t an ordinary baptism – it marked the return of a prodigal.
A young man in his 20’s who was raised in church. Who has ministered and served. He was a man we’ve known and loved and who spent a few years following his own path (boy, can I identify with that). The son of parents who remained faithful and trusted God to work on their behalf and to hold their son secure (I can relate to that, too).
But, as with many of the things of God, it gets better. He was baptized by his father – an amazing display of God’s grace and mercy and divine plan in our lives.
I’m sure that you’ll agree this is a huge blessing for this young man, his parents, our church, and for the kingdom of God. It’s the kind of blessing that money can’t buy. It’s the kind of blessing that can only come from the hand of God. And I ask you – do you think his parents would ever trade their son’s eternity for a few extra dollars?
Let’s Reset Our Perspectives
Oh, how we need to remember this when we think of blessings. How we need to remember the unfathomable blessing that is the gift of Jesus Christ on the cross – crucified, buried, and resurrected on the third day. How awesome is the love of God towards us! How we need to remember that he is always at work on our behalf, working all things together for good (Romans 8:28).
Let’s remember that God’s blessings are so much more than money or health. God’s blessings are eternal and so far above what we can ask or even imagine. Let’s open ourselves to receive all of God’s blessings in all of their various forms. Let’s not just seek God’s blessings. Let’s seek God’s presence and with it, the grace to see the blessings that he pours out on us daily.
Be blessed. And may God grant you (and me) the perspective to see the blessing.
