Be A Blessing

But Laban said to him,

“If now it pleases you,

stay with me;

I have divined that the Lord

has blessed me on your account.”

Genesis 30:27

After Rachel bore Joseph, her first son, Jacob came to Laban and asked for his blessing and permission to take his wives and children and return to his own country. Laban had come to realize that the presence of Jacob had been good to him. Laban knew that the God of Abraham and Isaac had been blessing him because of Jacob.

Jacob carried with him the Abrahamic Covenant, which promised that God would bless those who blessed him and curse those who cursed him. God is true to His word. This covenant is not conditional to the obedience or character of man; it is solely based on God.

Today we can still know that those who bless Israel will be blessed, and those who curse Israel will be cursed. Oh precious one, do not think for one minute that God has forgotten His Israel, nor His covenant with them. “Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant, O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me” (Isaiah 44:21).

In Micah 7:20 we read that God will give truth to Jacob and unchanging love to Abraham. We become a part of this unchanging love when we enter into the new covenant in Christ. We who are Gentiles must remember that when we were separate from Christ we were excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. It is only in Christ that we have been brought near (Ephesians 2:12–13).

God uses His people to be a blessing to those in the faith and to those outside the faith.

To those in the faith the Word declares, “And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24). In Philippians 4:18, Paul writes, “I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.”

To those outside the faith the Word declares, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:44–45).

He saved us that we might become a blessing (Zechariah 8:13). Let us live our lives in such a way that others, especially those outside the faith, see that they are blessed by the Lord on our account. May we always give all glory to God.

Oh Father,

I carry the blessing of Abraham through my redemption by Jesus Christ. I am an heir to the promise according to Your Word, “and if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise” (Galatians 3:29). Oh Father, I pray for the peace of Jerusalem: may they prosper who love her. May peace be within her walls and prosperity within her palaces. For the sake of my brothers and my friends, may peace be within her (Psalm 122:6–8). May I live my life in such a way that I am a blessing to others. Oh Father, keep my hands strong, that I might be used by You to build up Your church and to bring others to the obedience of faith. Might Your blessing of forgiveness, hope, and peace be seen in my life with such magnitude that it moves others to seek these blessings for themselves.

My Jesus, it is in Your name I pray,

Amen.