MORNING MANNA 1-22-22
BLESSING BRINGS BLESSINGS
Everyone wants to be blessed, but few seem to realize that being blessed is connected to being a blessing. Understanding this will change your outlook on life. Rather than thinking about your burdens, etc. you will focus on being a blessing.
The importance of this is seen in vs. 15 which tells us “to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you“. And the context reveals that we are to do this even though we are mistreated. Considering the demands set forth in vs. 8-9 it’s easy to see that this is difficult. Being loving and kind to those who aren’t is foreign to our fleshly nature, yet it is required of God. We are to bless those who curse us.
So, if you are truly concerned about pleasing God, being a good example, and being blessed you will “sanctify (set apart) the Lord God in your heart” (vs.1-5). That will enable you to do what you couldn’t do otherwise. Then you will discover that being a blessing brings a blessing. Loving, forgiving, helping, and praying for your enemies will cause others to wonder how you do what you do. That opens the door for you to help them become what they’re not.
If the thought of loving those who don’t love causes you to cring, remember Christ’s love for you. Rom. 5:8 tells us that He loved us “while we were yet sinners“. Thank God for that or we would have no hope of ever being reconciled to God. There is a chance that the person who offended you is unsaved – that explains their bad behavior. That being the case they are described as “having no hope, and without God” in Eph. 2:12.
Now it’s your time to shine so as to show them how a Christian should behave. Your example might be the very thing that will lead them to Christ. Can you think of someone who despises, disrespects, disregards, and dishonors you? If so, you need to think of them as part of your mission field. Never let their failure lead to your fall. Rom. 12:21 says, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good“. Perhaps you’re thinking “That’s hard” and you are right, but with God it is possible.
Think about this. Every child of God was once an enemy of God, but God’s goodness led them to repentance” (Rom. 2:4). Even so, God expects you to “overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21). Do unto others what Christ did for you! They might seem like a hopeless case, but that doesn’t give you the right to ignore your duty and give up on them. It’s true that they might never change, but having done your best you can have a clear conscience before God and the assurance of a blessing. I’m glad God never gave up on me and I suspect you feel the same way. Let us then do all we can to “live peaceably with all men” (Rom. 12:18). – HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
