You can listen to this post on Refresh Her podcast.
Have you ever looked around and really noticed how much God has blessed you? The homes we have, the material blessings that He gives are all gifts from His loving, generous hands. How can we use them to serve the Lord?
Listen to what the psalmist said – Psalm 67: 1 God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
2 That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
This was a request for blessing.
This psalm comes from the Aaronic Blessing of Numbers 6:24-26, where the High Priest of Israel would pronounce this beautiful blessing upon the people.
1 Peter 2:9-10 tells us that all believers are also a priesthood. We offer a priestly service to the world, and we primarily do it through evangelism.
“God be merciful.”
“The best saints and the worst sinners may unite in this petition.” (Spurgeon)
It would be quite a sight to see a guilty criminal before a judge, pleading for mercy, and receiving it – and then asking for a blessing! But God’s love toward us is that great!
And cause His face to shine upon us: To have the glorious, happy face of God shining upon us is the greatest gift we could have. To know that as God looks upon you, He is well pleased – not because of who you are, or what you have done, but because you are in Jesus Christ – there is no greater source of peace and power in life.
Bless us.
Then we read why he is asking this:
That Your way may be known on earth,
Your salvation among all nations.
The psalmist had a beautiful scope in mind: not just Jerusalem, not just Judea, not just all of Israel, not just all the Middle East, not just all the Mediterranean world, not just his continent or hemisphere, but all the earth.
God wants us to have the same heart and the same vision – for all the earth.
We are blessed in Christ. We have been saved.
Then beyond that, God blesses us in so many other ways with His grace blessings – things He gives that we don’t deserve. It reminds us of His great love for us, but why else does God bless us.
Let me ask you – Why do you have a home? Oh sure, for shelter and rest, but why did God give you the home you’re living in?
Recently I was privileged to listen in on a class about how to love the home you are in right now! I was challenged and convicted about wanting perfection before I invite others in. I want perfection in each room, fussing and fretting over scratches in the floor and knicks in the paint. The teacher of the class reminded us that if we cannot rest in the midst of the unfinished and imperfect, how could we ever expect those we invite in to be able to rest in our home?
My sister told me about a time when she was tempted to opt for perfection when she was given the opportunity to serve missionaries passing through. Let me read you what she shared with me…
In preparation for the upcoming Mission’s Conference at our church this past week, our pastor preached a sermon from Psalm 67. The message was an important reminder that as Christians, it’s our responsibility to spread the Gospel message for all to hear. He also posed a question that kept going through my mind, “God, why have I been blessed? How may I use these blessings to further your Kingdom?”
Two weeks ago my husband and I were asked to host one of the six Missionary families that would be serving at our Missions Conference this week. We quickly recalled the wonderful experience we had the last time a Missionary stayed with us and were eager to accept the invitation once again.
We were told that our Missionary couple was about our age and empty nesters, as we are, and that they would be with us for six days and would be arriving after the Wednesday evening kick off service. Earlier in the week I had freshened the guestroom with clean sheets, opened the window to fill it with the fall breeze, threw a cozy throw across the bed, and placed a tray on the dresser that held two bottled waters, a couple of magazines, a house key with our address, note pad and pen and a small box of fancy cookies all for the Missionaries to enjoy.
That Wednesday I thought everything was on schedule. I had just enough time to bake a pumpkin cake and freshen up before leaving for the church service. Just about that time I received a call from one of our ministers that our missionaries had arrived in town much earlier and were in hopes of being able to settle in before church. Immediately, the “Martha” came out in me and I was tempted to say no, I’m not prepared just yet. When God spoke to me, reminding me to be “Mary” instead. They weren’t here for cake or to see me dressed for church, they were here to share how God was using them in the Mission field and how we could pray for and assist them in their ministry. I agreed, set out apples I had just purchased at the orchard with caramel sauce, and quickly combed my hair.
Upon arrival they expressed their gratitude in having the opportunity to unpack, shower and rest before the service that evening. From that minute on, I can’t tell you what a blessing their visit was for my husband and I. You see, Missionaries are Christians just like anyone else that is saved. They have a need for fellowship away from their mission field, a time to laugh, share, and be reminded that we care for them. If you’ve never ventured out to open your home to one, I encourage you to pray, “Lord why have you blessed me?”
By opening up their home to host these dear missionaries, they had a part in their ministry in Ecuador. They didn’t fly across the world to a foreign land, or stand to preach a sermon, but by refreshing God’s servants, they were taking part in their effort to spread the treasure of the Gospel. And how did they do that? By means of what God had given them – a home.
What are you doing with the things in which God has blessed you? What can you do today or this week to help spread the Gospel and to make known the riches of salvation to those around you?
You may have those blessings from God so you can encourage and help those laborers who are sent to other parts of the world, but remember that we’re all commissioned to go and share the Gospel. Don’t let perfectionism hinder you. Open your imperfect home and invite others to the rest you have found in Christ!
Why have you been blessed? So that you can be a blessing.
God, why have you blessed me? So that you can share with others and further the Kingdom work!
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