January 22-28, 2017
The Word for this week is: “Bless”.
The thought for this week is: God has the amazing quality to bless.
In the first chapter of Genesis the term “blessed” is used twice. In verse 22, God blessed the fish and the birds so they could reproduce after their kind. Then in verse 28, God blessed man and woman and instructed them to “be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it.”
God has the amazing quality of blessing his creation with abundant blessings. Old Testament writers testified repeatedly that the God who made man, will sustain man with his blessings. (Gen. 48: 15; Deut. 2:7; Deut.33:1; Dan. 3:28.)
In the New Testament, Paul wrote to the Ephesian church: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. . . . . In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.” (Eph. 1: 2,7,8.)
Memorize and pray through the following Scripture this week: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (I Peter 3-5.)
Prayer: Father, we are forever indebted to you for blessing us beyond measure. Thank you that through our trust in Christ we can be saved eternally through his sacrifice for our sins. May we imitate Your amazing quality of bestowing blessings and share Your spiritual and physical blessings with others. In Jesus name. Amen.
By Ron Bever