Dear Trekker,
[A follow-up to last month’s letter… sweet Barbara is regaining her strength… the Gleevec is “kicking in.” Thank you for joining the chorus of prayer. God is blessing!]
A few days ago a former senior youth staff colleague (and his wife), now a distinguished professor in a major Christian university in the Midwest, flew to Colorado to see friend wife and me as well as other past and present ministry friends. He carried with him The Blessing, a lyrical poem describing the foundation from which all blessings flow. It was written by a young pastor, one of his former students. Focus on it with me as he passed it on.
The Blessing
Remember this… God loves you more than you can ever imagine.
He loves you with a love that has no beginning and has no end.
It’s a love you don’t have to earn and you can never lose.
It doesn’t matter if you feel like a success or a failure… God loves you.
It doesn’t matter if you are alone or surrounded by friends. God loves you!
It doesn’t matter if you are righteous or guilty… He loves you.
He loves you enough to send his son to live for you and die for you and be raised for you.
And even right now Jesus is before the Father and He is speaking words of love on your behalf.
And He will return to renew you and all of creation because He loves you.
This is the most true thing about you… you are loved by God.
Before anything else can be said about you, this must be said… God loves you. And that will never change. So don’t ever forget it!
Trekker, I hope you are saying with me now…WOW!
Some of the simplest, most direct sayings are the most profound. How encouraging, how freeing, how hope-filled!
The late Brennan Manning writes correctly, “Every religion has three elements: the intellectual, the ritual or sacramental and the personal mystical element.” Our faith in “the blessing” of Christ is embodied in each of the three elements.
God told Abraham, “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you: I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you, I will curse; and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” God conceived and created the blessing, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit carried it out. And we experience it daily as we live in the love of the Father, the fellowship with Jesus and the empowerment of the Spirit. “That” is the blessing we possess, of which no other compares!
Can we accept and savor the divine favor, the God initiative, reality and provision of which the “blessing” consists? Oh how we get in the way… our thinking, our practices, our corrupt relationships, our desire to “do it my way.” “My way” or “the highway” both end in dismal failure. God’s way, Jesus, “the Way” alone prevails generation after generation. And thus “the blessing” shall ever be the sole foundation of faith.
Henry Van Dyke nails it: “To be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to look up at the stars; to be satisfied with your possessions, but not contented with yourself until you have made the best of them, to think seldom of your enemies, often of your friends, and every day of Jesus Christ, …” Always blessed to bless others in the stead of God Himself!
Savoring the favor of blessing is indeed the essence of earthly life and the opening portal by which we joyfully and expectantly enter eternal life.
Christian songwriter and recording artist extraordinaire of a previous generation, Steve Green, captures these thoughts in his song, “Enter In.” Ponder these words: “Nothing chills the heart of man like passing through death’s gate; yet to him who enters daily, death’s a glorious fate. Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to be a holy bride, and daily cross death’s threshold, to the holy life inside. Enter in, enter in. Surrender to the Spirit’s call to die and enter in. Enter in, find peace within; the holy life awaits you; enter in.”
Living out the blessing is simply doing what comes supernaturally. As blessors in the footsteps of Christ, we become naturally supernatural and supernaturally natural.
We may complement every situation and bless every person in all relationships. The favor of blessing, understood, is the closeout of every discussion, the way out of every challenge, the speak out of every pronouncement. God loves you… period!
Saints, savor “the blessing.” It is the end all of “end alls.” Note these words of the Apostle Peter: “Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another, be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing” (I Peter 3:8-9).
Then in verse 15: “But in your hearts, set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” Oh yes, blessed to bless.
Trekker, you have inherited the blessing… enjoy Him! May the Lord bless you and keep you in His love.
Your friend,
Jim Meredith
