Catch the Light Christian & Spiritual Readings

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Cheap Grace - July 27, 2010
SFU -- The University of Prayer - January 06, 2010
Greater Things - April 29, 2010
The Birth - December 12, 2009
Flame Jumpers - March 30, 2010
Worshiping Gad - February 08, 2010
Worshiping Gad - February 08, 2010
Bible Burners - March 30, 2010
Set Your House in Order - October 18, 2009
Who Is Jesus? - February 05, 2009
The Truly Saved - December 31, 2007
The Blessing - February 04, 2009
God's People and Plan - February 16, 2009
Can I Say That? - February 16, 2009
The Wolves are Gone - September 16, 2008
Jesus, Hold My Hand - April 27, 2009

Reading of the Week

To the Christian a blessing may be understood as a divine gift which causes success in a person’s life. To non Christians good things which befall a person may be said to be “good luck” and credit thus given to Lady Luck. The blessing, however, translates as God’s presence with us (Gen. 26:3), His strength, power, and help as well. The blessing sees God working in and through a person to produce good. Who qualifies for God’s blessing and what do they have to do? Well, Jesus says, (John 10:27), “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” The one who follows Christ learns of the following conditionality of any blessing: “If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God…and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom” (Deut. 28:13).

“The LORD will make you the head, not the tail…” God’s people must choose to want the blessing after understanding that it comes with a cost. A blessing comes via obedience, sometimes a cost to dear for many. His children likewise know the caveat which entails a cursing through a choice of disobedience (Read Deut. 30:11-20). Fixing one’s eyes on Jesus (Heb. 12:2) targets the source of blessing. Believing in Him, loving Him and obeying Him indicates that one serves one master, the author and finisher of one’s faith. In conjunction with the preceding, the removal of everything from one’s life which could hinder the blessing is obligatory. This translates as putting aside the deeds of darkness (Rom. 13:12), a definite prerequisite. Ephesians 4:22 calls one to drop the “old self” which is easily corrupted by its deceitful desires. The “old self” is the embodiment of all that was contrary to Christ. The “new self” is Christ-centered.

Throwing off everything that hinders and sin that entangles (Heb. 12:1) further aligns a person along the path of God’s blessing. In simplest terms, Jesus says that if His followers obey His commands they will remain in His love (John 15:10). In addition, Jesus goes on to say His friends obey His commands (John 15:14). Furthermore, Christ said that the Father would give whatever is asked in His Son Jesus’ name (John 15:17). One needs to know that luck plays no part in eternal life, but the blessing of serving an awesome God certainly does.