This morning my friend Pastor Andy Wilson preached his sermon, “Born to be Blessed” with a humble
urgency that resonated with me. He used the account of Isaac’s blessing his two
sons, first Jacob posing as the eldest son Esau, and then Esau begging for a
blessing and receiving a lesser one. The power of those blessings helped shape
God’s people Israel. (Genesis 27:30-41)
The Synoptic Gospels all give an account of Jesus blessing the
little children. Mark gives his account as follows in chapter ten, versus 13-16
(NIV):
“13People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to
place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14When
Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the
little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God
belongs to such as these. 15Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom
of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16And he took the
children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.”
I can’t think of
anything more Christlike than to bless children. Andy spoke of our
responsibility as spiritual leaders to bless those whom we have been called to
serve; our children, grandchildren, husband and wife, various church groups,
friends, family, and our peers and subordinates at work. Bless them out loud
and with conviction. For our public school teachers, quiet blessings from the
heart and true concern for your charges can be quite effective.
Both of my
sons-in-law asked for my blessing before officially asking my daughters to
marry them. We gave it (because it is important to me to include Cindy) and
meant it and we watch over the blessing like a farmer watches over his flocks.
We want them to flourish, pray for them to do so, and are thankful that God
watches over them. It is likewise with my son and his wife. They asked me to
perform the wedding and we blessed the rings, the couple, and everybody else
would could get our hands on. Those we couldn’t, we blessed in absentia.
It seemed the Lord
was to leave nothing to chance when it came to having me write about blessings.
Even in my short lunchtime reading Charles Dickens spoke to me of the importance
and lasting power of the blessing. In this chapter, the young Oliver Twist is in
the process of running away from the cruel undertaker’s family when he stops by
the workhouse and bids farewell to his little friend Dick. From the chapter
entitled ‘Parting From Little Dick” in Oliver
Twist:
“’I hope so,’
replied the child. ‘After I am dead, but not before. I know the doctor must be
right, Oliver, because I dream so much of Heaven, and Angels, and kind faces
that I never see when I am awake. Kiss me,’ said the child, climbing up the low
gate, and flinging his little arms round Oliver’s neck. ‘Good-b’ye, dear! God
bless you!’
The blessing was
from a young child’s lips, but it was the first that Oliver had ever heard
invoked upon his head; and through the struggles and suffering, and troubles
and changes, of his after life, he never once forgot it.”
The power of a blessing can stand against any number of nasty
things. Give them freely, meaningfully, from the heart and they will be etched
within the story of the receiver’s life.
And finally I offer the Priestly Blessing, as Andy shared it today
with us, from Numbers 6, 24-26. As I type this I have my children and their
children, and my family, especially the Craws as they grieve, firmly in mind.
Won’t you, as you read this, put someone firmly in your mind and bless them?
From Numbers 6: 22-26 (NIV) -
“22The Lord said to Moses, 23“Tell
Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
24“ ‘ “The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.” ’
To paraphrase Ty Webb (Chevy
Chase) in Caddyshack: be the
blessing.
In His grip, jerry
