| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Christian community” Our Bible verse for today: “I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” Genesis 12:2 (CSB) Our thought for today: “You have been blessed so you can be a blessing” In Genesis chapter twelve we’re reading about God’s call to Abraham to leave his home in the land of Ur and travel to the land of promise in Canaan. God promised to bless Abraham and his descendants and that they would grow into a great nation. But we often miss the last part of the promise, “and you will be a blessing”. Abraham and his descendants were blessed by God so that they could in turn be a blessing to others. That has certainly turned out to be true for the nation of Israel. I don’t have the time or space this morning to consider all the ways the world has been blessed over more than four thousand years by the little nation of Israel. Jesus, of course, is the greatest blessing to come from them. But there’s also a general Biblical principle contained in that verse. All the blessings of God are meant to be shared. That includes the blessings God has blessed you and I with. We are blessed so we can in turn be a blessing. There are so many verses and passages that teach this important truth. We as Christians are to first and foremost care for and bless other Christians: “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.” Galatians 6:10. We are also to use our own trials and sufferings as a platform for ministry to others: “He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” Compassion, kindness, empathy, and sharing blessings are the most effective ministry tools we have. God comforts us, provides for us, walks with us through the dark times in life, and we are to do the same for others. As Christians, we are the recipients of manifold blessings from God. Receiving and then sharing those blessings should be one of the hallmarks of the Christian community – it’s what the world should know us for. Others should be blessed because we have been. God bless, Pastor Jim (Join us at Oak Hill Baptist Church Sundays as 10:00. Join us in person if you are close-by, or if you are geographically distant or a shut-in, online at http://www.YouTube.com/oakhillbaptistcrossville) |
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