How to Receive a Blessing

This week we will follow the lead of Jesus, who started off his most famous sermon not with instructions on how to live or insight about who God is or commands regarding morality or mission, but by blessing people. 

Jesus kicks off The Sermon on the Mount with a time of blessing. Jesus calls out different groups of people, names them as beloved of God, and publicly affirms them.

So we’re going to do the same in our devotions this week, taking a few of those verses from Jesus’s first sermon as a basis to give blessings.

In the message yesterday, a few of our elders joined the pastors in giving blessings. So this week we’re going to put those blessings in writing for you to receive.

So the way you receive a blessing is this: let it in. Let it in. Believe it. Let God touch your heart. Let God affirm you. Receive what is yours here today to receive. 

And for the blessings that are not specifically for you, this is what you do: join in in the blessing of others. Lean into it, pass it along, pray it into them. And maybe follow up with a text message of affirmation later to one or two names that come to mind.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God. - Matthew 5:3

Jesus sees you who don’t think you’re better than anyone else. He sees you when you are willing to ask for help. He sees you when you know you need God. You are the poor in spirit, and you are blessed by Jesus.

God delights in you and actually dwells in you! And that means that wherever you go, God goes with you to spread goodness and healing and hope. You get to be a part of the kingdom in a profound way because there’s so much space in your life for God to show up since you’re not squeezing God out with your pride.

So receive the blessing of God today. God is proud to call you beloved!