Blessed to be a Blessing
Our first encounter with the demonstration of blessing is in Genesis 1 and 2 where we see God pronounce a blessing three times:
Day 5: Gen 1:20-23 – after creation of the fish and birds, he blessed them and says 'be fruitful and increase in number and fill the sea and the earth'.
Day 6: Gen 1:24-25 – after creation of human beings, he blessed them and says 'be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and use the world’s resources in service of God and people' (Amplified)
Day 7: Gen 2:2-3 – God had finished creation, rested and blessed the day making it holy.
From these examples we can conclude that a blessing has the following constituents:
• Fruitfulness, life in all its fullness, abundance
• Enjoying rest within our world – which is a holy and peaceful relationship with God.
The blessing encompassed both vertical and horizontal relationships. It is dependent on our relationship with God (we are blessed) and in turn we share that blessing in relationship with others and with creation. A term that captures this well is Shalom.
The backdrop of the commissioning of Abraham to be a blessing to all nations is Genesis 3 to 11. This makes the covenant from God all the more amazing as in the midst of a world in rebellion God commits to a mission to bless all nations through the offspring of Abraham. This promise is what drives the mission of God forward and what our mission is all about.
Jesus becomes the climax of this covenant as through him the curse from Gen 3:14-19 is broken. The Shalom is restored (Gal 3:13-14).
The Covenant call is this (Gen 12:1-3):
• Go
• Be a blessing
• All nations will be blessed through you
This is not a passive call. It is not a call to be a spiritual, exclusive club. It is not an instruction that implies we give up on this world and focus on heaven. It is a commission to engage in integral mission expressed through the inauguration of a new humanity who live out this blessing in all aspects of life. It is establishing a community of blessing. We are called to be a blessing to all nations.
Integral Mission and Shalom
As we celebrate the birth of Christ this Christmas, may we fully embrace the truth that in Christ the curse is broken and he is the bringer of Shalom: justice, peace and joy. May we revel in this Good News. May we hear the Call again to be a blessing to all nations and our prayer is that our response is here we are Lord, send us.
Micah seeks to create the space for us to come together, to earnestly seek the Lord and discern how we can effectively fulfil his missional call to be a blessing. Let us make use of every opportunity, be inspired by one another, be encouraged by one another, be ready to serve one another, be willing to stand with one another and to always be faithful to God’s mission. We anticipate a powerful and challenging time together at our up and coming Global Consultation: Integral Mission and Shalom: justice, peace and joy (14th to 18th September 2015).
Blessing:
May we bless you: May your family know the presence and call of God. May you know the love of God and may this love flow through you to all you come in contact with and in all you put your hands to.
Thank you for seeing the potential of Micah. Thank you for being a blessing. We look forward to 2015 and know that God can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.
United in Him
Micah Global Secretariat
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