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The Lord Bless You
“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace” (Numbers 6:22-23).
This blessing of God delivered through Moses to Aaron is a warm greeting often shared with friends today. I keep a copy of it on my desk. Consider the components as they apply to you.
“The Lord bless you and keep you.” God loves to bless His people. It is He who really provides all of our blessings small and large. His blessings are so numerous and abundant we fail to realize their consistency. It is only when a desired blessing is not realized we seem to be aware of the many good ones we routinely enjoy. His keeping, that is His preserving of us, is a major blessing. He shields us so often we tend to be unmindful of this grace.
To “keep” is a specific blessing given to those with concerns for safety, focusing on God’s sheltering the people from evil and its effects.
“The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you….” One’s face is a revelation of his will. What is going on in the heart and mind shows on one’s face. This comment encourages individuals to conduct themselves in such a way as to please Him. Our loving responses make His face shine, that is, to radiate with pleasure. His response is to be gracious to us, to bless us.
“The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace ….”
This is an expression meaning to look up, pay attention. “Look-a-me God and give me peace. This peace, this shalom is God’s word for wholeness and goodness and total satisfaction in life. In this idiom, we might say: God smiles on you. The greeting means you want its object to have such peace.
The reference to “you” is mentioned six times in the passage giving emphasis to you personally.
No less emphasis is given the source of all blessings. It is “God,” who is mentioned three times.
Before posting this I have paused to pray for all who receive the following blessing.
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.
Who Are You Going to Believe?
Both candidates for President are quick to accuse the other of lying. That is about the only thing they agree on, both are false bearers. If their falsehoods were these warriors they would wear camouflage. They never look or sound like what they are. Unmasked they are untruths, lies. Their object is to deceive. It is disheartening to know we have to decide between two liars, but we do. Considering they are co-equal liars we must look for some other basis on which to decide for who to vote. Consider these headings.
Immigration:
Trump: Trump’s policy on immigration may be among his most famous. He says on “day one” he would close the US-Mexico border and embark on a hard-line position to round-up and deport undocumented immigrants.
Harris: “We are very clear, and I think most Americans are clear, that we have a broken immigration system and we need to fix it,” she told an interviewer. Why hasn’t she helped do it using authority already at her disposal?
The war in Ukraine:
Trump: “We must be absolutely clear that our objective is to immediately have a total cessation of hostilities.” He has said he supports extra aid to Ukraine, albeit possibly in the form of a loan.
Harris: This summer she traveled to a conference in Switzerland and pledged Washington’s continued support. She announced $1.5 billion in US assistance through the State Department and the US Agency for International
Abortion:
Trump said the issue should be left to individual states, which is the current state of affairs since Roe was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2022.
Harris: After the Supreme Court overturned Roe, she became among the most effective campaigners on reproductive rights, saying while Trump boasted about having helped overturn the 1972 ruling, she and Biden were pressing Congress to restore the position to have it as it was before.
Economy:
Trump: He has suggested he would tax all imports up to 20 per cent of their value, and tax Chinese imports 60 per cent. He has said he would lower the corporate income tax rate from 21 per cent to 20 per cent.
Harris: “Building up the middle class will be a defining goal of my presidency.” How? She has also proposed a change to inheritance tax rules, ending a “loophole” where children do not pay the capital gains of their parents’ assets when they are sold.
Israel:
Trump: Trump often claims to have been the most pro-Israel president in history. He agreed to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem, recognize Israeli sovereignty of the disputed Golan Heights and spearheaded the Abraham Accords.
Harris: In March, she talked of a “human catastrophe”, while last month she skipped Netanyahu’s address to Congress but did meet with him.
Climate Change:
Trump: He says on his first day in office he will end Mr Biden’s “Green New Deal atrocities” – a measure that was actually never signed into law. He also says on the first day in office he would “drill, baby, drill” and reduce restrictions on drilling imposed by Biden.
Harris: She says climate change is real and warned “the clock is not just ticking, it is banging”; when she ran in 2019 she supported the progressive Green New Deal climate change mitigation framework and spoke out against fracking.
Vote for the candidate whose policies you approve.
Lord Have Mercy
There is a lilting song that is expressive of our needs and a responsive answer. Before reading the lyrics below it is more meaningful if you know the Greek words for “Lord, have mercy,” are “Kyrie, eleison” that is to say, ‘Lord, soothe me, comfort me, take away my pain, show me your steadfast love.” Keep that in mind in reading the following and make it your prayer.
As we come before You with the needs of our world
We confess our failures and our sin
For our words are many yet our deeds have been few
Fan the fire of compassion once again.
Kyrie Eleison, have mercy
Christ Eleison, have mercy
Kyrie Eleison, have mercy
Christ Eleison, have mercy
When the cries of victims go unheard in the land
And the scars of war refuse to heal
Will we stand for justice to empower the weak
Till their bonds of oppression are no more?
Kyrie Eleison, have mercy
Christ Eleison, have mercy
Kyrie Eleison, have mercy
Christ Eleison, have mercy
The song ends with this:
Kyrie eleison down the road that I must travel
Kyrie eleison through the darkness of the night
Kyrie eleison where I’m going, will you follow? (Will you follow?)
Kyrie eleison on a highway in the light.
Perhaps you will find it more meaningful if you go back and pray it as a plea for God’s mercy.
Synonyms like compassion, lovingkindness, favor, and steadfast love often appear in Bible translations to illustrate the idea of mercy. A brief biblical definition of mercy is “the gift of God’s undeserved kindness and compassion.”
Mercy is a concept necessary to an understanding of God’s dealings with humankind. In English translations of the Bible, it comes to expression in phrases such as “to be merciful,” “to have mercy on,“ or “to show mercy toward.” The corresponding term, “merciful,” describes a quality of God and one that God requires of his people. Basically, we get mercy from God and we should resultantly show it to others as in His name. Lord, have mercy.
Love Thy Neighbor Enough to Vote
My normal posts consist of motivational and inspirational matters. Some might consider this one informational and it is. That is a field of thought deserving the optimum attention by Christians if they are concerned about these issues:
• The fate of pre-born human beings
• Freedom of speech
• Freedom of religion
• Freedom of the media
• The right to peaceful assembly
• Equal justice and equal opportunity under the law
• Personal security and public safety
• Home and family life
• Education
• Economic and vocational freedom
• Free enterprise
• Private property rights
• Foreign policies and America’s role and responsibilities in world affairs
The two candidates for President have positions on each of these issues. Do you? If so, vote for the candidate whose positions and yours are most alike.
Does your pastor ever touch on these issues? If not, share the following from the pen of Dr. Jefrey D. Breshears:
“Many Christians have been led to believe that we should be apolitical so as to eliminate any unnecessary distractions or impediments in our witness to others.” However, Jesus “when asked, ‘Rabbi, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind.’ This is the greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” – i.e., “Treat others in the same way that you would want them to treat you” (Matt. 22:36-39; 7:12).
“Now my question is this: How can we possibly love others if we are unconcerned about the kind of laws and public policies and programs that regulate (and often control) their lives? How can we possibly love others unless we are sensitive to – and attentive to – not only their religious and spiritual lives, but their physical, material, emotional, social, intellectual and creative needs as well? In other words, how can we truly love others if we care little about the quality of their lives in any holistic sense?”
If you have a friend and/or pastor who might benefit from this approach please share it with them. Visit the post of Dr. Breshears for more at: www.TheAreopagus.org.
Time Out
“So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90: 12).
This is an appeal for God to teach us the certainty and brevity of life. Many live as though life is unlimited and certain. Both are false. This poignant verse teaches us to prioritize wisdom and cultivate a deeper understanding.
Understanding that our days are numbered helps us to live more purposefully, making choices that align with eternal values that lead to a more fulfilling life. God wants to partner with us in this. With Jesus Christ in control, life is an adventure, a challenge, and an investment for eternity. A knowledge of Scripture, meditating on it, prayer, and the Holy Spirit are means of guidance.
Pray: “Lord, help me by Your Spirit and Your Word to grow in wisdom throughout the days You give to me. Amen.”
So, the question is what are you waiting for?
Tomorrow is the chain that binds people to loathsome habits. Tomorrow is the barred and bolted door that shuts people out of the house of their dreams. Tomorrow is the downward path that leads people into the land of regret. Tomorrow is the siren’s song that seduces people from the path of duty. Tomorrow is the sleep that paralyzes the energies of people. Tomorrow is the sword of self-destruction on which people fall. Tomorrow is the word carved over the door of the realm of the lost.
Today is God’s time for action.
“Today if you hear My voice…”
“Boast not yourself of tomorrow.”
“Behold NOW is the accepted time…”
Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today. You might enjoy it so much today you will want to do it again tomorrow.
Albert Schweitzer, who had four PhDs, said, “The only one among us who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.”
So getter done! Commit yourself to finding and following God’s will every individual day. You can subscribe to doing whatever you do as to the Lord.
As of this day it is my day number 33,791. I know my number is fewer than ever. It matters little. What matters is that every remaining one be lived as unto the Lord. Join me in that resolve.
“Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:1).
“Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away” (James 4: 14).
Therefore, enjoy today to the fullest. May it be pleasant and productive.