Blessed to Be a Blessing

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us, Selah, that Your way may be known on the earth, Your saving power among all the nations. Psalm 67:1-2

God is so good to us in so many ways. I mean I honestly don't think we have a clue how much God provides and cares for each one of us. The billion things He does for us and around us every day, the things we have, the opportunities that come our way. We have a God who is not just out there somewhere doing His own thing, but He is intimately and passionately involved in everyday life.

When we think about God's blessing, there's a really important truth that we need to remember. Notice how the psalmist opens this prayer. "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us."

We like that part. God, pour your grace on our lives. Protect us. Provide for us. Work in us. Be with us and show Your favor. 

That is not a bad thing to ask for at all. The problem comes when that's all we ask for. God's blessing and favor and grace toward us are not ultimately for us. God has not designed us to be containers of His grace and blessings. He hasn't saved and redeemed you that He might fill you up for the sake of you being full.

There is a much more glorious purpose behind God's blessing, and this is a truth that will transform your prayers if you truly learn to think this way. 

God's blessing comes to us, because God wants to bless others through us.

Ultimately, God's blessing comes to us, because God wants to bless others through us for His fame and His name's sake. That's why the psalmist says "that Your way may be known on the earth, Your saving power among all the nations." He doesn't just say bless me and fill me up. He prays that God would bless His people in such a powerful way that it transforms the world around them for His glory. Let them see your power and your way. Let them see your glory when they see us.

That is the purpose of all the good things that God does for us and provides us. It's not just so we can sit back and enjoy ourselves. Ultimately, it's so that we might shine His goodness all around us. In other words, we are blessed to be a blessing.

How can you live this out this week? Who can you serve? Who can you be a blessing to? Who can you allow to experience God's grace through you as He pours it into you?