Tag: Blessings

A Christian Perspective

God Blesses Those Who Bless Israel

Loring Schultz

“Blessed is everyone who blesses you, O Israel, and cursed is everyone who curses you.” Numbers 24:9b NLT

Photo by Sander Crombach on Unsplash

Scripture is quite clear of God’s love for His chosen people, the Jews. God chose Abram to leave his homeland and go to a place He would lead him. The Lord spoke to Abram saying, “I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” (Gen.12:2-3 nlt) God has fulfilled His promise to Abram. Israel became a great nation, the Jewish people have been a blessing to the world, and all the families of the world are blessed through Abraham’s seed in the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

God’s love has never wavered for Israel even through their times of sinful idolatry recorded in the Old Testament. The Jews were punished severely for their sins by having their land destroyed and being taken captive to foreign kingdoms. But God had grace and mercy on His chosen people and brought back into the land due to His promised covenant and His love for them. The Jews are indeed God’s chosen people. Throughout history nations who have blessed and supported Israel were blessed, and those who have not, were not blessed, but cursed.

The nations of the world in 2024 have had a close eye on Israel since the terrorist attack by Hamas in October of 2023. There are sympathizers on both sides. A word to the nations who support Hamas and other extremists by agreeing with their ideology. The Jews are still God’s chosen people. The prophet Ezekiel prophesied against Mount Seir, also known as Edom, after the bloodshed they caused against the Jews trying to escape their Babylonian captors. “Your eternal hatred for the people of Israel led you to butcher them when they were helpless, when I had already punished them for all their sins. For you said, ‘The lands of Israel and Judah will be ours. We will take possession of them. What do we care that the LORD is there!’” (Ez.35:5, 10 nlt) Sounds a lot like 2024, the 1930’s and ‘40’s, and all through history. God’s chosen people have always been under attack.

God’s Word still stands true today, “Blessed is everyone who blesses you, O Israel,
and cursed is everyone who curses you.” (Num.24:9 nlt) Edom was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in the sixth century B.C. and again by John Hyrcanus, a Hasmonean (Maccabean) leader in 126 B.C… There is no trace of the Edomites in our current day. Curse is everyone who curses Israel.

The United States and many other nations across the world have been supportive of Israel for many years. These nations must be careful not to let their support wane. The United Nations as a governing body hasn’t been much help in garnishing support for Israel. The United States, as the leader of the free world in 2024, has the advantage to take the lead in their support for Israel. As a citizen of the United States and a Christian, I realized America has been blessed beyond measure for our support of God’s chosen people. May the upcoming administration continue and enhance the United States’ support for Israel. For God says, blessed is everyone who blesses Israel.

Photo by Stanislav Vdovin on Unsplash
 

Read: Ezekiel 35 NLT – A Message for Edom – Again a message – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Use It or Lose It

Loring Schultz

“When thou takest away my outward blessings, it is for sin,

          in not acknowledging that all I have is of thee,

          in not serving thee through what I have,

          in making myself secure and hardened.”  (1)

          Photo by Jack Niles on Unsplash      

There is an old hymn entitled “Count Your Blessings.” The chorus goes, ‘Count your blessings-name them one by one; Count your blessings-see what God hath done; Count your blessings-name them one by one; Count your many blessings-see what God hath done.’ (2) I’m sure most of us have see God’s blessings in our lives. If we take the time to count them, we will be overwhelmed in all God has done for us. With so many blessings we probably even forgot one or two. God not only blesses us for ourselves, but to share His blessings with others.

What has God blessed you with? What has He and gifted you with that can help present the gospel and be shared with others? The Lord may have blessed you with musical talent. Are you using that talent to the best of your ability to serve Him? The Lord may have blessed you with a brilliant mind in science, are you using it for His glory? You may be blessed with leadership skills, are you a part of an organization or company that can benefit having a Christian working among them. Whatever recognizable talent God has blessed you with can be and should be used for Him.

Some of you may feel you’re a small cog in a big wheel, but that cog is extremely vital. You’re a small piece of the puzzle, but without that piece, the picture is not complete. Take note how God has blessed you and use what he has given you to serve Him and others. School districts need crossing guards and hall monitors, not only science teachers. Churches and concert venues need ushers and set up crews for the service or concert to run smoothly. All organizations and companies need hands-on individuals who support the work through whatever their responsibilities are.

Count your blessings naming them one by one using and sharing them for God’s glory whether in public, your neighborhood, or in the home. They are yours to use or to lose. “So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.” (Mt.25:28 esv)

(1) Bennett, Arthur. The Valley of Vision. East Peoria: Banner of Truth Trust, 2023. Pg 20, Union with Christ.

(2) Johnson Oatman, Jr.                      

A Christian Perspective

The Attack on the Kingdom of Heaven

Loring Schultz

“And blessed is the one who is not offended by me……. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence.” Matthew 11:6, 12a ESV

Photo by Kindel Media on Pexels.com

There is an all-out effort by governments around the world to silence the Christian church, the United States included. We should not be surprised by this or think this is unique to the 21st century. It is true, persecution of Christians, attacks on churches, and labeling followers of Jesus as radicals outside the norms of society, have been steadily increasing, but attacks on Christians have been around since Jesus came to earth and declared, ‘Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’(Mt.4:17) All Christians are a part of the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus made it clear there were attacks on His kingdom in His days on earth and they have continued throughout time. He told John the Baptist’s followers since the day John started preaching repentance and preparation for the coming of the Messiah the kingdom of heaven was under attack. John had been arrested by King Herod, the ruling authority at the time. He had been put in prison and eventually executed. The kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence ever since and will continue to increase in scope until the day of Jesus’ return.

There is a silver lining to this dark cloud of attacks against Christians. Jesus said, ‘blessed is the one who is not offended by me.’ (Mt.11:6) When we are not offended by Christ by standing firm in His truth we will be blessed. Jesus didn’t say we won’t be attacked, or arrested and sent to prison, or worse, no, He said we are blessed. The persecution that has been prevalent in many parts of the world has found its way to America’s shores. It may not as brutal or intense as in other countries, but the groundwork has been laid to remove God, His Word, and His way of salvation from all education and government institutions. Freedom to speak the truth of God’s Word even from the pulpit is rapidly being considered hate speech and subject to prosecution.  

Christians will be attacked, that is of course when we are not offended by the name of Jesus as the only way of salvation and are offended by the rules and regulations of our godless society. Being silent during these days is not an option. It either signals our approval that we are not offended by anti-God legislation, or it shows our weakness and lack of faith in the God we serve. The assault on Christians is here to stay, it’s not going away. Remember the Lord God promises to be with us and promises us His blessings especially when we are attacked for His name.

Devotionals

Finish what you started

Loring Schultz

“Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have.” 2 Corinthians 8:11 NLT

            I once had a boss challenge me to ensure that each project I started would be completed. He further indicated that his previous assistant, completed only 90% of each project. He would occasionally comment on my work by saying, “I see a lot of 10 % in the store.” It made quite an impression on a 22 year old fresh out of college beginning a career in retail management. 

            In the business world, uncompleted projects can lead to negative results effecting the profitability of the business impacting both consumers and associates of the business. Failure to complete erodes away best of intentions and the best laid plans.

            The apostle Paul reminded the church in Corinth of their commitment and desire to help the poor Christians in Jerusalem. The work of collecting money had started, but it had stopped. It was not completed. The needy people in Jerusalem will not get relief and the Corinthian church will missed out on a blessing. Paul encourages them to finish what they started.

            Is there a project that you have started for the Lord with the best of intentions and have not yet completed it? Evaluate your situation as to how you can best complete it with the Lord’s help. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to please God by blessing others and in turn receive a blessing yourself. Complete the leftover 10% and finish what you started.