“God designed blessing as the fuel for the fruitfulness of our lives. It’s wonderful news because, if the blessing comes first, then our current circumstances and past failures don’t limit our future. It means we should start blessing others now, even if they haven’t done anything to warrant our affirmation.”- Alan Wright
“God blessed [Adam and Eve] and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”- Genesis 1:28 (NIV)
In Chapter 2 (“Why Blessing Precedes Success”) of The Power to Bless, Alan Wright asserts that many people invert the Gospel message. As a result, they think that following Christ, study, prayer, and giving precede God’s blessing. However, that’s not the message of the Bible. In Christ, God’s blessed you beyond measure. Therefore, in response you follow Christ, study, pray, and give joyfully.
At the age of nine, Julia Mancuso used a black marker to sketch herself racing on skis down a mountain. At the bottom of her poster, Julia inscribed the words “4-Time Olympic gold medalist.”
Starting with the 2006 Turin games, Julia won four gold medals over three different Olympics. The most ever for an American alpine skier. But, Julia visualized it coming. Ever since the day she took marker to poster board and blessed her own life.
Hence, Pastor Wright underscores, God doesn’t test us before He blesses us. Rather, God blesses us in order to make us faithful. Ironically, though, the harder you try to prove yourself worthy of God’s blessing, the less you can actually receive that blessing. Because God’s blessing is a gift.
Thus, when Jacob blessed Ephraim and Manasseh, he didn’t first test them to see if they were worthy. Instead, Jacob finally understood that you must give blessing, like all grace, without conditions.
Today’s question: How do you see blessing as the fuel for the fruitfulness of your life? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Under the power of blessing”
