Tag: blessing

I Remember …

On By J. David Elwell, Th.D.In InspirationLeave a comment

I Remember them, because He invested in them.

Our hearts often follow our currency. The Lord, then, asks us to invest in people, both near and far, so that our hearts are always with them, and our treasure is stored safely in Him.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:19-21).

Illustration.

While my wife and I were sitting at lunch one day, at a regular spot for us, I overheard a young couple across from us wrestling with some bad news. I didn’t need to hear the specifics, as my shepherds heart heard the key words I’ve heard thousands of times before.

It was then that I felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to bless them. I excused myself from the table, walked to my friend at the register, and quietly paid for their food. This is not noteworthy, he will often ask me if “that’s all” when I check out, as it’s something I’m prompted to do, well, often. He will ask, “What do I tell them?” Just, “their Father in heaven loves them.”

Here’s the point that connects us back to the words of Yeshua/Jesus. I remember each face of every individual, family, or group that I’ve been able to bless in that manner. Honestly, every one. In remembering them, I pray for them long after the food is gone, and probably long after the simple kindness has been forgotten.

Why? I’ve invested a little something that heaven invested graciously in me, in them, and there part of my heart is; this being but one of the ways of investing oneself in others. I was prompted to write this, after doing the dishes while praying for that young couple.

I pray that some part of this makes sense, and has blessed you. If so, then thank Him.

Be well. Shalom.

**I do not usually write or make public my personal faith practice, apart from the obvious leadership and mentorship roles I’m called to. I’ve shared this, not as a boast, but as an illustration of one aspect of the above verse on my heart. I pray it does not publish as a boast. And no, the people never know who blessed them, only the Lord.

The Wisdom of Many Worries

On By J. David Elwell, Th.D.In Applied Theology, InspirationLeave a comment

Everyone has stress. Have you ever had one or two unexpected things pop up that lead to a day or days of stress or inconvenience? Maybe: your car broke down? your hot water heater stopped working? an unexpected financial issue? With the “extras” piled on, you just want things to get back to “normal.”

There is an old Yiddish blessing that says:

‎זאל איר זיין ברוך מיט פילע דאגות/zal ir zeyn brukh mit file dagus.

Meaning:

“May you be blessed with many worries.”

At first glance this sounds terrible, but there is wisdom here. To have “many worries” was to be living a normal life with regular, daily cares. In other words, your life had not been overwhelmed by one terrible concern – a death, or serious illness as examples.

Messiah Yeshia/Jesus tells His followers to “not worry” about tomorrow because today has enough worry of it’s own (Matt. 6:34). He is not diminishing the significance of our daily concerns, rather, He is redirecting our focus.

Today will have its troubles, but trust in the One who made today; and be grateful for the normal day:

‎זֶה-הַיּוֹם, עָשָׂה יְהוָה; נָגִילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה בוֹ

“This is the day that the Lordhas made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps. 118:24).

Messiah is directing our day, with its ups and downs, to Himself.

Be well. Shalom.

Blessed into Blessing

On By J. David Elwell, Th.D.In Applied Theology, Inspiration1 Comment

The כֺּהֲנִים/cohenim, the levitical priests, served God in place of the firstborn sons of Israel, called to that service after the sin of the golden calf. They would minister before the Lord and the people, as intermediaries between heaven and earth. Adopted as firstborn sons, by their service, they would raise up and continue the Father/child model of discipleship.

Perhaps the longest continually spoken blessing in the world was given by God to Aaron, and his sons. It has been spoken for some 3,500 years; in both the synagogue and the church.

Called the בִּרְכַּת כֺּהֲנִים (birkat kohanim), the priestly blessing, it is at heart, a short blessing reminding God’s people of His protection, His grace, and His fatherly embrace that lifts us up in and for peace.

It reads:

יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה, וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ

יָאֵר יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וִיחֻנֶּךָּ

יִשָּׂא יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם

“The Lord bless and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His face upon you and give you peace” (Num. 6:24-26).

The Torah specifies that God is doing the blessing, while the priests speak it:

וְשָׂמוּ אֶת-שְׁמִי, עַל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל; וַאֲנִי, אֲבָרְכֵם

“And they will put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them” (Num. 6:27).

According to tradition, a blessing increases what we already have, and the priestly blessing connects today to tomorrow. We have life today, may He increase it for tomorrow.

As Messiah Yeshua/Jesus was ascending to heaven, Luke records, “And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven” (Lk. 24:50-51).

Here we see Yeshua blessing His disciples by “lifting up his hands.” In rabbinic literature, the priestly blessing is also known as nesiat kapayim, the “lifting of the hands.”

Yeshua, our High Priest (Heb. 4:14-16), lifts His hands in blessing over “the congregation (ecclesia) of the firstborn who are written in a scroll in heaven” (Heb. 12:23), among whom He is the Prince and perfecter (Heb. 12:2), the “firstborn among many brothers and sisters” (Ro. 8:29; cf. Col. 1:15, 19; Eph. 1:10-12).

As Peter explains, “you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession …” (I Pet. 2:9). You have been chosen, adopted (Ro. 8:14-15) into heavens priesthood, to serve Him here and now, connecting heaven to today and tomorrow, to build up the lives of those around you.

Your position at birth matters not. Born-again by faith in Messiah, all who call upon His name are now adopted, repositioned, and set for ministry, priestly service, to speak words of His blessing, coupled with actions of blessing delivering His provision (Jas. 2:14-17).

If you are reading this, you are blessed. Yes, you are. You are also an adopted and renewed priest in Messiah, part of that congregation of the firstborn, now doing a priestly service before the Lord and before people (Ro. 12:1; 15:16).

In Jewish tradition, for grace after meals there should be bread on the table, as a sign that God will again increase and safeguard what we have, food.

What bread is on our tables? What bread is before us? The Living Bread from heaven, Yeshua. The source of all blessing, life, and peace. May He continue to increase His presence in our lives, so that we continue to be a blessing in the lives of others.

You have been blessed into blessing. May it be, כן יהי רצון, “according to His will.”

Be well. Shalom.