What It Means to Have God's Blessing

 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.’” –Matthew 25:34 NIV

 

The Initial Blessing

When I read this verse this morning, the word bless jumped right out at me. I prayed, “Bless me, Father. I can’t wait for the day when you call me to come to You!” Then I added, as I always do when reminded of the last days, “But I will wait because so many more need to come to You.” I started praying for God to bless everyone I know who hasn’t come to know Jesus as Savior yet. When God says, “Come,” I want them all to hear that call.

My prayer was like that of a young child at bedtime: “Please bless this person and that person and this other person and don’t forget this person.” I named one after another, asking God to bless them with knowledge of Himself.

 

The Greater Blessing

Next, remembering Jabez (1 Chronicles 4:10), I asked God to bless all the people I know who do know Him. The closer we walk to Him, the more He blesses us, so we can bless others in His name.

But I also know that this blessing doesn’t always look like a blessing. I believe God blessed Jonah by calling him to preach to the Ninevites. He blessed Peter by calling him to share the gospel with Gentiles. God called both men to deliver His message to people that Jonah and Peter didn’t find qualified to receive it, and both men questioned their calling. God had to get firmer with Jonah than with Peter, but, ultimately, both men delivered God’s message.

 Both also exhibited some discomfort after they did. Jonah became angry (Jonah 4:1). Peter became avoidant (Galatians 2:12).

I, too, have experienced this discomfort, but I have come to believe that God uses it to help His children level up their ability to love. God loves all people (John 3:16). God wants to offer His mercy to all people (John3:17, 2 Peter 3:9). When He calls His children to minister to people whose life circumstances are different from their own, He is blessing them by helping them to love all people like He does.

The Bible doesn’t tell us what became of Jonah after his temper tantrum or how Peter responded to Paul’s challenge, but I hope God blessed them by expanding their love. Outside texts reveal God blessed Peter’s ministry far beyond what the Bible reveals. (For more about this, read Michael Card’s book, The Fragile Stone.)

Regarding Jonah, some theories say he wrote the book that bears his name. If so, I hope he learned to love the Ninevites. Perhaps he even stayed with them, becoming their personal prophet and teacher, an early missionary. I hope that’s what happened, and if it did, I know Jonah is among those whom God blessed.

Bless us, Father. Please bless us all with ever-growing knowledge of You. Please use us to call others, so together we’ll all join You when You say, “Come!” Amen

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Photo by Val Vesa on Unsplash