Blessed to Be a Blessing – Part 2

Michael continues: A man and woman of God are Christ-centered. We need to understand who we are, but more importantly, whose we are. In life's decisions, the question is "what's the cost and what's the benefit." Ultimately decisions are not about the cost, but rather about the value. What is it that you value?  The Lord says, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these other things will be added unto you." How do we seek the Blessor instead of the blessing? We seek the Blessor by blessing others. The love of God is made perfect when we give it away. This is the example of Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus prayed to His Father in the garden of Gethsemane, "If there be any way, let this cup of suffering, separation, and death pass from me." He was praying about the injustice of the sins of the God-rejecting world and separation from his Heavenly Father by death. God's answer is that Jesus would have to drink the cup. It's through suffering, pain and death that Jesus paid the price for sin on our behalf. Jesus Christ, for the joy (of our salvation) that was set before him, endured the cross and is set down at the right hand of God. The heart of the gospel is that He who knew no sin was made the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him.  

God makes good on His promises. He will make it good on His timetable and not ours.  He will clean the slate and give us grace and mercy for our redemption according to the truth of His Word. The love of God gives unconditionally. When we pray for our enemies, we reflect the nature of God Himself. For in that while we ourselves were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly.  

God has set us in the body of Christ so that we can live to be a blessing. We need to be thankful for the opportunities to give and bless others unconditionally. Our attitude of gratitude is based on His sacrifice for sin on our behalf. We love Him because he first loved us. When we come to know our Lord Jesus Christ, we can love others on His behalf. The “narrow way” is living in the land of blessing as we live to bless God by blessing those to whom He has called us to minister. We give and love unconditionally when we live to edify, comfort and encourage others according to the Word of God.

Therefore, the Lord thy God is one Lord. Thou shall love the Lord with all your heart, with all your mind and with all your strength. Honoring the first commandment is "Thou shalt have no other God between your face and my face." When we walk in fellowship with Him, the gates of Hell shall not prevail against the true church and the truth of the Word of God. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ made this available. For I was crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me. And the life that I now live I live by faith in the one who loved me and gave himself for me.  Therefore may our prayer be, "Lord come help yourself to my life ... take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to Thee."

May God richly bless you!

Your brother in Christ, Michael