What Does Blessing Look Like?

We frequently use words without really thinking about or understanding them. Take the words “bless” and “blessing.” When someone sneezes, we say, “Bless you.” When something good happens, we feel blessed. Our church services frequently end with the minister “blessing” the congregation. In prayer we continually ask God to bless us and bless others, bless our business, our country, our food, our travels… You name it; we want it blessed!

But do we really understand what the words “bless” and “blessing” mean? What is a blessing? What does blessing look like?

One of the Hebrew words for blessing is esher, which means “happiness.” In Greek, the word for blessing, makarios, also carries the meaning of happiness. In both the Old and New Testaments, those people who find their purpose and fulfillment in God are described as blessed or happy. Scripture makes it clear that God's original design in creation was that humankind would experience prosperity, security and fulfillment (Genesis 1:28). In other words, He created us to be happy.

This intention is clearly seen in the most famous blessing of all time, the blessing of Aaron (Numbers 6:24-26). I'm sure that you've all heard it: “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”

What exactly is God telling us in this blessing? In ancient Hebrew, the words carry the following meaning: “God will kneel before you and present you with gifts of well-being and prosperity. He will guard you with a hedge of protection. God will bestow His favor on you by illuminating your understanding of His goodness and by bringing order and beauty to your life. He will smile upon you with pleasure and affection, and He will set in place everything you need to be whole and complete spiritually, physically, emotionally and financially.”

Wow! Does that leave any doubt in your mind that God wants to make you happy and fulfilled? What does God's blessing look like? He offers us the blessing of complete reconciliation with Him and the opportunity to live in the justice, joy and peace of His Kingdom here on earth (Romans 14:17)!

In the coming week, I encourage you to spend five minutes a day reading and meditating on this blessing. Let God show you how much He loves you and wants to bless you with every good thing!

Please join us this Sunday at our 9:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. service. My sermon is titled “Reaching the Harvest through the NET.”