Blessing Others

Then Joseph brought his father Jacob in and presented him before Pharaoh. After Jacob blessed Pharaoh, Pharaoh asked him, "How old are you?" And Jacob said to Pharaoh, "The years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty. My years have been few and difficult, and they do not equal the years of the pilgrimage of my fathers." Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from his presence. So Joseph settled his father and his brothers in Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land, the district of Rameses, as Pharaoh directed. Joseph also provided his father and his brothers and all his father's household with food, according to the number of their children. (Genesis 47:7-12, NIV)



As I read this passage in my quiet time, the word "blessed" seemed to jump from the page, and I realized that in many ways we've lost the art of blessing others, especially verbally.





While it's true in a sense that God is the One who blesses, I believe those of us who belong to Him are called to bless others as well.



I know this idea of verbally blessing others may seem a little foreign sounding in today's society, but bear with me. God made this promise to Abraham:



I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. (Genesis 12:3, NIV)



This promise was ultimately fulfilled in the coming of Christ. But in addition to that awesome fulfillment, those of us who have become co-heirs with Christ have His Spirit living within us. We're a part of that Abrahamic promise just as Jacob was. Because of His presence with us we have the capability of spreading that blessing all around us.





My prayer is that everything I do and say will be a blessing to others. Sadly, I confess that I don't always live up to that prayer, but I continue to strive toward it.



Here's my blessing for you today, and it's the best one I know.



The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26, NIV)