“God bless you.” Have you ever wondered what that means, really? Often, we use it as a spiritual substitute for “Good luck” (which is not an appropriate wish to be uttered by a follower of the Sovereign God of the universe). What does it mean to bless?
Literally, it means ‘to extend’. It can be seen to refer to extending a kiss – a sign of love, joy, delight. When we offer someone a blessing, we extend God’s love toward him or her.
Have you ever considered learning some biblical blessings so that you can bless people in God’s ways? To offer an intentional, God-breathed blessing from Scripture can mean a great deal to another person. When I was a student, I used to do this regularly when I was trying to learn blessings that I could give to a congregation at the end of worship gatherings; I ought to learn some new ones, and practise by offering them to others!
Here’s a great way to start: learn Aaron’s blessing from Numbers 6.24-26. Here’s how it’s rendered in the New Living Translation:
May the LORD bless you and protect you.
May the LORD smile upon you and be gracious to you.
May the LORD show you his favour and give you his peace.
Share these words with someone you love. Not only will that person experience your blessing, and God’s…so will you!
Bless, and be blessed!
