December 18, 2018 – Genesis 12:2-3

“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.” Genesis 12:2-3.

Did you count the times bless, blessing, or blessed is used in these two verses? Each time blessing is used it used with some kind of kindness.  The first use — is ‘make you famous’.  The second time, it is kindness to others.

The third time has two sides of blessing — kindness or cursedness.  It is through Abraham all families on earth will be blessed, is the promise God gave Abraham. God told Abraham to travel to a another land, and his descendants would be blessed as well as all people on earth.  Abraham was old, and childless but through faith, he believed. Hebrews 11:8-19 tells the story of Abraham.

In Acts 3, we learn what Abraham’s faith means to us.  It is through the lineage and faith of Abraham, God sends the blessing of Jesus to every nation and tribe.  It is only through Jesus, God’s son, that we are blessed.  Faith begins unseen as hope, and becomes the proof of faith, a reality we can trust.  God told Abraham, all families will be blessed. Then God sent Jesus to earth to draw us from evil.

May all this who know this Jesus, have a Blessed Christmas!

You are the children of those prophets, and you are included in the covenant God promised to your ancestors. For God said to Abraham, ‘Through your descendants, all the families on earth will be blessed.’ When God raised up His servant, Jesus, He sent Him first to you people of Israel, to bless you by turning each of you back from your sinful ways.” Acts 3:25-26.