“...I will bless you...and you will be a blessing” Genesis12:2
Many Northerners will chuckle at the familiar Southern expression, “Bless your heart.” It sounds innocent enough, but I was surprised to Google the phrase and find it often to be considered condescending or even insulting! Since language usage does change over time, let’s just take this phrase at face value and assume it is a polite statement of genuine empathy and concern. My goal is to realize how important blessings are in our personal and communal lives. One of the most common contexts of a blessing is the benediction given at the close of Sunday services. Benediction means “a good word.” In his book, Let Us Worship God ...Derek Thomas goes on to explain it is a good word in the sense that the benediction is also referred to as “the blessing,” and is linked (along with curses) to God’s covenant promises to His people (Num.6:24; Gen.9:1; 6:11-13; 6:18). When we come to church, who doesn’t want to be blessed? But what about being a blessing?
Here is the church, here is the steeple
Open the doors and see all the people.
Closed doors are not welcoming. What if the last line of the rhyme said, “The doors are wide open to welcome all people”? What if the church community regularly shared our joys and concerns? Are we not all “seekers”? Some come looking for the blessing of peace (Rom.1:7b); hope, joy (Rom.15:13); encouragement (ICor.15:58). Others need prayer (Eph.3:20-21); a fresh supply of grace (I Cor.16:23) and freedom from guilt, doubt, despair, weakness (Jude 24-25). Many times these needs can be met through the sermon or wise pastoral counseling and care, but the congregation is also called to be a blessing, whether in church or outside the church walls! What better place to start than at home in the family circle? At the beginning of the school year or other special occasions, I have had the privilege of speaking a blessing over my grandchildren, inspired by the account in Deuteronomy 33 of Moses blessing the tribes. Each benediction was unique to the tribal head, just as the blessings we pray should be unique to the needs of those we pray for and with, whether we use benedictions directly from Scripture or words of our own. While we can bless people by doing good deeds, there is something particularly impactful about using words to affirm others. Who do you know that could use a good word? Here are a few Bible blessings besides the references already listed in the text, and original benedictions by Derek Thomas and Dale Ralph Davis:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself
for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age,
according to the will of our God and Father, to
Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Gal.1:3-5)
Now a dying Savior’s love,
a risen Savior’s joy,
an ascended Savior’s power
and returning Savior’s hope,
rest upon your hearts and your homes.
Amen.
May the companionship of the man of sorrows
and the power of the King of glory
rest upon you this day and all your days.
Amen.
The Lord be the shelter above you,
the tower around you, and the rock
beneath you all your days until Jesus comes.
Amen.
Dale Ralph Davis
Now may the God whose affections never waver,
whose love never grows cold, whose promises never fail,
and whose commitment remains steadfast,
keep you from the evil one, and from doubt and despair
until Jesus comes.
Amen.
May the Lord, who knows your weakness, make you strong.
May the Lord, who knows your fears, make you unafraid.
May the Lord, who knows your frustrations, make you calm,
in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Derek W.H. Thomas