March 1
Numbers 6:1-27; Numbers 10:1-36
We all want to be blessed. The opposite of blessing is curses and no one wants that. Yet often we tie blessing solely to material prosperity and, if that is our definition, then we will often feel like blessing is far from us. Numbers 6:22-27 reminds us that what God determines as blessing is often different than our perception of blessing. The priests were to pronounce a blessing over the people which focused on the nearness of God. His presence was the greatest blessing he could give. God's desire has always been to dwell among his people, to pour out his grace, and to give peace. This prayer is not focused on material possessions (though God can certainly bless in that way); rather, it is about having God himself.
Often, we delight in God's gifts rather than God himself, and in the creation instead of the creator. If we learn to recognize God's ultimate blessing is himself, then it is avail‐ able to us all the time through the permanent gift of his Spirit. We can know we are always blessed because God has given us himself.
Father God, thank you for the gift of a relationship with you. Thank you it is by your initiative and grace that I can know you, draw near to you, and experience you. Help me to remember you are the greatest gift of all and to see everything else as lesser than you. Amen.
How can you remember God's view of blessing (God himself) instead of our culture's view of blessing (material prosperity)?
We all want to be blessed. The opposite of blessing is curses and no one wants that. Yet often we tie blessing solely to material prosperity and, if that is our definition, then we will often feel like blessing is far from us. Numbers 6:22-27 reminds us that what God determines as blessing is often different than our perception of blessing. The priests were to pronounce a blessing over the people which focused on the nearness of God. His presence was the greatest blessing he could give. God's desire has always been to dwell among his people, to pour out his grace, and to give peace. This prayer is not focused on material possessions (though God can certainly bless in that way); rather, it is about having God himself.
Often, we delight in God's gifts rather than God himself, and in the creation instead of the creator. If we learn to recognize God's ultimate blessing is himself, then it is avail‐ able to us all the time through the permanent gift of his Spirit. We can know we are always blessed because God has given us himself.
Father God, thank you for the gift of a relationship with you. Thank you it is by your initiative and grace that I can know you, draw near to you, and experience you. Help me to remember you are the greatest gift of all and to see everything else as lesser than you. Amen.
How can you remember God's view of blessing (God himself) instead of our culture's view of blessing (material prosperity)?
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