When are you blessed?
by Pastor Peter Bean
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[Jesus] raised his hands and blessed them (Luke 24:50).
Just before he leaves them, Jesus blesses the disciples. It was appropriate to occur at this time – the last time he will physically see them, at the end of his physical ministry on earth.
But hasn’t Jesus been blessing them all along? Just before this action, Jesus recounts the gospel story: Scripture (ie Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament) being fulfilled, Christ dying and rising, the Holy Spirit coming into their lives. What a blessing.
And how about the miracles, healings and parables they’ve heard (and the explanations!) and the people whose lives have been changed? All these events they’ve witnessed – a blessing.
And their own lives – pulled apart, rearranged, changed forever – a blessing. So even though Jesus raises his hands and blesses them at the end of his physical ministry on earth, he has been blessing them all along.
We are verbally blessed at the end of every worship service when the pastor or worship leader raises his or her hands and blesses us. And it is appropriate that we are sent out into our daily lives, our working or studying week blessed.
But is that the only time we are blessed? Aren’t we blessed whenever we hear the gospel in a Bible reading, sermon, at a home devotion, during a group Bible study? Blessings all along.
And what about the answers to prayers (which might have been a yes or a no!), the fellowship we have experienced with neighbours, friends and family and the food we’ve eaten, and the people we’ve met who have shared stories with us? More and more blessings.
And think about your own life – pulled apart, re-arranged, changed forever – through all the events and history that is your own. There are blessings too numerous to list.
So it is good we are blessed at the end of a worship service, but remember, we are blessed all along.
When and how are you blessed?
Thank you, Lord, for the reassurance of the words of the blessing. Help us to be aware of our daily blessings and to live in your grace each day. Amen.
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