Be a blessing to generations!

How to be a blessing to others?

It seems to be a very easy question to answer; however, how would you know if you are actually blessing or cursing the recipients by your generous act.

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder," a greek proverb says. So, what you think is good, may not be the best, or as good as what others may think.

If you stop for a moment and look around you, and see if they are "good".

Some would probably say, "Well, it's raining now in my area, so it's not good." or "No, no, it's fine right here, the weather is warm." or "In my neighborhood, there are some illegal activities going on every night, so I can't say it's going great." or "There's someone in my apartment building who gives Christmas cookies every year for all the tenants."

Paul says in the book of Acts chapter 20, verse 35 recalling what Jesus have had said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

So, it's definitely good to give. But, what to give, or better yet, out of what heart are you doing it, is what I would say the very heart of the message.

What if I say to you that the four comments above were being spoken by one individual, would you be surprised?

I wonder what the Christmas cookies person are thinking, going out every year door to door in that apartment giving out cookies to strangers. What if that person comes into a room while an illegal transaction is being held?

I guess, it's not enough to just look at whether it's a sunny day, or it's a rainy day to get you started with your day, or be a blessing to others.

In Genesis 12, verse 2, God says, "And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing."

Hmm...

So, our life are to be a blessing to others. Not necessarily, by our own effort or striving, but, by holding to God's promise that He will bless us, and He will use us to be a blessing to other nations.

What if I chose not to be a blessing? Can I do that instead, and keep all the blessing to myself?

Well, based on an English grammar online book that looked at, the word "shall" is used:
- only when I or we is the subject.
- however, we can use shall with a subject in the second or third person to express determination, promise, obligation, or permission, depending on the context.
(http://www.bartleby.com/64/C001/056.html)

This means that God has given us (Galatians 3:26, "For you are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus) a "promise, determination, obligation, permission" to be a blessing. So, it's a covenant that He signed.

We as the co-signer, do we have to sign the deal? Well, it's up to us whether we want to sign it. God has already shown all His part of the agreement, and the covenant is not bind unless we signed it. And so far, after seeing the agreement, we are asked only for a very basic and simple thing, one of them is to "have faith in Jesus Christ"

Think when you are buying a house. Do you sign the agreement right away and read the agreement after you sign it, or do you look at the agreement first then you sign it? Every individual is different. Some will be just happy if they can get a house (like me :)), some just want a nice location, some look at the inside of the house, some actually have to spend some time in the house to make the decision.

At the end, one thing that matter is the contract. What is very crucial is that a lot of people may not have reached to this point of buying the house. They are still searching for the house they like and can rest.

I would like to compare a house to a blessing for now. To say "colloquially", Most people would agree that for someone to have a house, he must be blessed, especially when they got it as an inheritance.

I don't know, if you have witnessed or seen of what God has done in your life. Wouldn't you say that they are a blessing? Yes, I agree :)

So, with your permission, I'm asking you to come to an agreement that just to live is a blessing. But, obviously we don't stop there. Remember, earlier that God wants us to be a blessing to others. If we live our life just like there's no end tomorrow, or we say, "Thank God for this life, and now I live it my own way, see You later in life.." we are breaking the covenant.

Maybe to some of you, you haven't witnessed which "house" I'm talking about. Some grew up in a broken family, or all they heard as a child were cursing, shouting, fighting. Maybe they grew up in that apartment I talked earlier where there are illegal activities going on all day.

As you grew up, your doors have probably been knocked by a person who handed you Christmas cookies, which your parents or older brothers or sisters just said that it's just a waste of money and time. And you realized that this is the "house" or a "blessing". Now I see.

Do you want to be a blessing to others?

It is a deal waiting to be signed by you. Just sign your name at the bottom.

I'm going to share with you, what I did when I signed my contract.
I was with my aunt over the phone after a church service, (after almost 10 years absent in church) she asked me, if I have received Jesus as my Lord and Savior." I said, "No."

Then, she went over my part of the "contract" with me, I said, "Father God, I give You all my life. I'm sorry, if all this time I am living my life in my own way. Please, forgive my sins. I believe that Jesus Christ, Your son have died for me in the cross, so that I can be forgiven and can spend eternity with You. In Jesus Name,...Amen.
(paraphrase of Romans 10:9-10)

Right there and then, something rose up in my heart, mind, and conscious a strong assurance that when I died I will see Him and not go to hell.

This happens more than 2 years ago. I didn't get a physical house at that moment, but I believe that I have received something that is bigger and much more than just a regular house.

Right now, 2 years later, I still don't have a house :) But, God has kept His promises ever since, that His blessings are just so abundant.

Now, I learn now from His words, the bible, Jesus said, "In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also." (John 14:2-3)

I laughed to myself when I saw that it'll be more than just a regular house but it's a mansion :)

Ok, so now, we still haven't answered the question of how can our life can be a blessing to others, nations, and to generations to come.

Well, once you've signed the contract, God will reveal His plan with your life.

He has million ways for you to be a blessing to others. But, first I just want to say congratulations and say Welcome to God's family for those who have signed the agreement. We are now brothers and sisters in Christ.

(to be cont.)