Blessings

Blessings (by David Peterson)

Jesus had just performed the miracle of ridding a demon-possessed man named Legion of his tormentors in the region of the Gerasenes on the northeast side of the Sea of Galilee. Afterwards, and out of fear, the people of the area demanded that Jesus leave. The cured man wanted to depart with Jesus but Mark 5:19 records: “And He did not let him, but He said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.” While also found in Matthew 8:28-9:1 and Luke 8:26-39, this passage shows Jesus reminding people that His power can change lives as He is God and in ultimate control of the world. Jesus blessed this man through His divinity.

John Broger was an American Christian missionary and author who wrote a manual on discipleship. Broger wrote; “The process of biblical change, explained in God’s Word, begins when you repent of your sin and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. God has given you everything you need to make the changes in your life that will please Him and will lead to His blessings. As you continue to obey God’s Word, biblical change toward maturity will occur in your life until you see Jesus face to face.” Broger correctly states that believers who repent will be blessed abundantly through obedience in the Word.

Fanny Crosby, the prolific hymn writer, penned the great hymn “Blessed Assurance” in 1873. In stanza 3 she writes: “Perfect submission, all is at rest. I in my Savior am happy and bless’d, watching and waiting, looking above, filled with his goodness, lost in his love.”  Crosby relates the truth that submission to Jesus leads to the blessing of “a fore-taste of glory divine”.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, we praise you as our Savior all the day long. We submit to you and delight in your ways and rest in the blessing that one day we will see you face to face.