The Shape and Nature of Abraham’s Blessings
Everyone in the world seeks some form of blessing. However, the true blessing from God may be different from what the world desires. As seen in the story of Abraham, God’s blessing can be the transformation of an individual into a person who lives by faith and not by sight. Through this transformation, Abraham becomes God’s instrument to bring His ultimate blessing to the world – Jesus Christ.
Continuation Of God’s Covenant Blessings
Have you ever wondered whether good things will continue and whether God will still remember to bless you tomorrow? We are often laden with all kinds of worries about our future, and sometimes when we look at our situations, we can’t help but question how God can possibly still fulfil His promise to us. What has the Bible to say about such concerns? How can the contents of Genesis and Exodus relate to God’s faithfulness to us?
Jacob Blesses His Sons
There are a few important realities we cannot ignore: the certain eventual death of every man, the definite consequences of sins and the uniqueness of every person. How can the story of a dying Jacob blessing his different sons according to what was appropriate to them also present a noteworthy lesson for all of us? How does the grace of God play out in the death of his saints, in giving blessings to those who repent from sins, and in uniting people with different gifts and inheritance?
Testifying God’s Faithfulness
Our typical human nature tends to complain when we meet misfortunes in life, but have God proven your despair and unbelief wrong in the end? Have He surprised you with grace you didn’t imagine? Through the many testimonies of biblical characters, we are reminded that though they also had their share of adversities and despairing moments, God kept His promises to them ultimately. How about your own testimony? Are you able to confirm God’s faithfulness in your life and share those testimonies with people around you?
Blessed To Bless
It is simplistic to think that God’s people will be exempted from troubles in life. Christians are also hit by global crisis, such as the current pandemic, but are you able to confirm how God is showing you special care despite the difficult situation you are in? As you taste more of God’s blessings, are you also more willing to be a channel of blessing to others, showing them God’s kindness and glory?
Uncertain Move With God’s Assurance
What does it mean to have a God who is always with us and who is for us? One assurance is that whenever we seek Him with our heart, especially in times of uncertainty, He will be found by us to provide us with timely answer and help. Importantly, since we belong to this one true and faithful God, we should not be influenced by the religions and cultures of the world, but be set apart for Him.
The Secret To Forgiveness
We all have been wounded in big or small ways, sometimes people looked down on us, sometimes they took advantage of us, sometimes they forgot about us, and sometimes words of hate turn into actions of harm against us. How should we deal with these? God calls us to love even our enemies, which includes forgiving others. But what if we still struggle to forgive? In fact, forgiveness is at the heart of Christianity. To forgive may be a hard thing to do, but it brings greatest freedom.
Testing For Transformation
The God we worship is a living God, and His word is also alive and effective. Thus, if anyone claims to believe God’s word, he will have some kind of life transformation over time. God gave us certain tests and trials in our lives so that we are convinced that we must fully trust Him and be God-driven, instead of stubbornly choose to trust our own wisdom and ways. Because He wants to use us, He will test us, to see if our faith is real and submission is sincere. When God tests us, can we pass the tests, and can He find true transformation in us?
God’s Discipline, Man’s Repentance
Sometimes, even though evil seems to get its way temporarily, God will eventually prove that He is just and will bring about judgment for sin. For those who have done wrong yet did not repent, even if they do not see any ‘bad’ consequences yet, they will still have a strange, subtle fear within them. Whenever something unpleasant happens to them, they may wonder if that is God’s punishment for them. Unless there is real repentance followed by concrete transformation, they will always be accused and gripped by fear.
Responding To God’s Revelation
We are generally curious about our future and God’s plan. But why do we really want to know God’s revelation or word? Is it because we want to obey God and adjust our plans around His? Or will we think of ways to escape from God’s plan after knowing that it is different from ours? In fact, when God reveals His will and plan to man, He meant to bring about a blessed response from man, for man to repent, turn to Him, submit to Him and share the good news of salvation to others. Can you discern God’s will today, and how do you respond to it?
