Quick Note – Genesis 12:1-3 – The Blessing of Being a Blessing

Genesis 12:1-3 – Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.  And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

There are times in our lives when we can be a blessing to others.  It may be through an encouraging word that is shared with a person who is struggling from a loss.  It may be through a simple act of kindness like paying for a meal for the next person in line at McDonald’s.  It may be through the writing of a timely blog post that says just the right thing to the right person at the right time.  We never know what things we do each day may bless another person.  About ten years ago, I had a conversation with a person on a cruise ship talking about the most random things, but what seemed like an inconsequential conversation to me was actually a huge blessing to that person, who was missing home.  Without even knowing it, I was a blessing to another. 

In our passage today, God called Abram to leave his country, home, and family to go where He would lead him.  Abram (whose name would eventually be changed to Abraham) had no idea where this would be but was promised by God that if he obeyed, he would be made into a great nation, would be blessed by God, have a great name, and be a blessing.  When this story is shared in church often the focus is on how God would make Abraham into a great nation, but today, I want us to focus on a different aspect of that blessing and that is that Abraham was blessed to be a blessing.  Abraham would be made great, so that he could be a blessing to others.  Now, throughout his life, Abraham was a blessing to others.  He was a blessing when he rescued his nephew Lot from captivity in Genesis 14.  He was a blessing to Abimelech, who made a treaty with Abraham, when he noticed that God was with Abraham (Genesis 21:22-34).  And based on his interactions with the people of Canaan, which always seemed peaceful, we can assume he was a blessing to them.  Abraham was a blessing throughout his life.  But more importantly, he was a blessing to the world because through his lineage, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, came into this world, bringing salvation from sin and death to all.  This is the greatest way in which Abraham was a blessing. 

We Christians can also receive this blessing of being a blessing to others.  We are called to serve others through the love of Christ.  We are called to consider others better than ourselves and to look not only to our own interests but the interests of others (Philippians 2:3-4).  We are called to encourage one another and build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11).  And most importantly, we are called to share the Gospel and make disciples of all nations.  It is by following these callings that we become witnesses of what Jesus Christ has done in our lives.  It is through these callings that we are a blessing to this world, because it is through this love that the world will know that we are Christ’s disciples.  By being a blessing to others, we act as the salt of the earth, as the light of the world, and as a city set on a hill.  Let us strive to be a blessing this upcoming year, drawing people to the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  It is when they meet Him that they receive the ultimate blessing.  So may our lives be small blessings that always point to the greatest blessing – the Son of God.