HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 44
page A42
Blessings continued
• J A ME S 1 :1 2 | God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation.
Blessings may come in strange forms. Sometimes the greatest blessings come from
suffering or persecution because we have proven ourselves faithful to God.
How can I respond to my blessings?
• PSA L M 9 2 :1 -2 | It is good to give thanks to the Lord. . . . to proclaim your unfailing love in
the morning, your faithfulness in the evening.
God has given us far more than we will ever realize. Thank him for this before you become
ungrateful and lose out on all he has yet to offer.
• DE U T E R O NO MY 6 :1 1 -12 | “When you have eaten your fill in this land, be careful not to
forget the Lord, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.”
Blessings can make us forget God. We must be careful that we don’t become so comfortable that we forget the God who gave us all we have.
How can I be a blessing to others?
• G A L AT I A NS 5 :2 2 -2 3 | But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
If you share this fruit with other people, you will be a great blessing to them.
B
• NU MB E R S 6 :2 4 -2 6 | “May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you
and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.”
When you speak a blessing on another person, it has tremendous impact.
HelpFinder
How do I limit God’s blessings?
• NU MB E R S 2 0 :1 2 | “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to
the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!”
• 2 S A MU E L 1 2 :8 -9 | “I would have given you much, much more. Why, then, have you
despised the word of the Lord and done this horrible deed?”
We limit God’s blessings when we willfully sin and therefore hinder our relationship
with God.
• 2 K I NG S 1 3 :1 9 | “You should have struck the ground five or six times!” he exclaimed. . . .
“Now you will be victorious only three times.” (See note on page 340.)
• J A ME S 1 :1 4 -1 5 | Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us
away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives
birth to death.
We limit God’s blessings when we give in to temptation.
What kind of people does God want to bless?
• J E R E MI A H 1 7 :7 | “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord
their hope and confidence.” (See note on page 683.)
Blessings from God come to those who trust and obey him. Blessings are not merely
words spoken by God, but are part of the special relationship offered by him to us.
• R O MA NS 1 2 :1 4 | Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will
bless them.
Jesus brought a new idea—blessing and forgiveness for enemies. This is unique to
Christianity. The natural response is to seek revenge against enemies. Prayer for our
enemies is a severe test of our devotion to Christ.
What blessings come to those who belong to God?
• DE U T E R O NO MY 2 8 :1 0 | “Then all the nations of the world will see that you are a people
claimed by the Lord, and they will stand in awe.” (See note on page 183.)
Anyone can belong to the world, for we are easily given to worldly things. But it is awesome
to belong to the Lord God, creator of the universe, because that means he accepts us.