“Bless”

“Now the Lord said to Abram. ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land I will show you. I will make you a great nation and I will bless you and make your name great so that you will be a blessing.” [Genesis 12:1-2 N.R.S.V.]

The Holston Annual Conference met this year under the one word theme of Bless. Usually when we think of this word we think of the adjective form which is blessed. As when someone asks how we are and we reply: “I’m blessed.” Or we say we are having a blessed day. This year’s theme however is the verb form; to give a blessing to others.

Abram in the scripture quoted above has often been referred to as being blessed to be a blessing. Sadly, it seems that scripture tells us that his descendants forgot the second part of that statement and simply claimed God’s blessing for themselves and failed to bless others.

The emphasis this conference year is for all followers of Jesus Christ not to make that same mistake. I challenge each and every one to prayerfully consider how you can be used by God to bless someone else. Maybe it is by volunteering your time to help some service ministry. Kids Junction can certainly use help. Maybe it is by visiting our shut-ins and Nursing Home residents. Maybe it is by cooking a meal for those who need it. Maybe it is baking a loaf of bread to welcome new people when they move into your neighborhood. Maybe it is by serving your church in more or different ways.

And if you absolutely, positively cannot do anything else, you can pray. Develop a prayer list and pray each day for those on your list. Let them know you are praying for them. Not only will you bless them, you just might be blessed as well.

Richard