Passing on the blessing
Biblical text – Hebrew 11:20-23 “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones. By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the King’s edict.”
Thought of the day:
Yesterday we meditated about the hope in faith and in eternal life as being the true source of hope. Contrary to what is commonly believed, the biblical hope is not “avoided worldwide”. In fact, the biblical hope releases us from the fear of death (Hebrew 2:14-15), for a full existence to be lived here and now. As paradoxical as it may seem, it is the precise security of eternal life that makes it possible for us to conform ourselves to this life, filling it with hope – beyond our own generation: He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.” (Proverbs 14:26). It is this certainty of our Patriarch that should inspire each one of us. Therefore we, the Christians, should not complain about the “constant debasement of times” (historically it would be foolish, since many things have improved and continue improving). Can’t we see that the constant murmuring and complaint darkens the horizon of our children?
Our faith will give them realistic models: they will not expect that the contingencies of their future life will come out of the “progress” of society. On the contrary, they will look for their life style and their satisfaction in God. And this God will be the same for our children as he was for us!
Therefore, we should kindle and nurture a culture of blessings, by faith. Let us pray confidently for our children and for the next generations. Let us encourage them to trust in God: a God that can bless them in their path even more than he has blessed us in ours.
Worship and Thanksgiving:
We worship God for his faithfulness, his resources and his immutability;
God was present in every moment of History;
God blesses every generation;
God assures our security.
Intercession:
For the next generation: children and youngsters;
For role models in God’s likeness: mothers and fathers in the faith;
For courage to live and profess our faith;
For a culture of blessings.
Biblical text – Hebrew 11:20-23 “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones. By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the King’s edict.”
Thought of the day:
Yesterday we meditated about the hope in faith and in eternal life as being the true source of hope. Contrary to what is commonly believed, the biblical hope is not “avoided worldwide”. In fact, the biblical hope releases us from the fear of death (Hebrew 2:14-15), for a full existence to be lived here and now. As paradoxical as it may seem, it is the precise security of eternal life that makes it possible for us to conform ourselves to this life, filling it with hope – beyond our own generation: He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.” (Proverbs 14:26). It is this certainty of our Patriarch that should inspire each one of us. Therefore we, the Christians, should not complain about the “constant debasement of times” (historically it would be foolish, since many things have improved and continue improving). Can’t we see that the constant murmuring and complaint darkens the horizon of our children?
Our faith will give them realistic models: they will not expect that the contingencies of their future life will come out of the “progress” of society. On the contrary, they will look for their life style and their satisfaction in God. And this God will be the same for our children as he was for us!
Therefore, we should kindle and nurture a culture of blessings, by faith. Let us pray confidently for our children and for the next generations. Let us encourage them to trust in God: a God that can bless them in their path even more than he has blessed us in ours.
Worship and Thanksgiving:
We worship God for his faithfulness, his resources and his immutability;
God was present in every moment of History;
God blesses every generation;
God assures our security.
Intercession:
For the next generation: children and youngsters;
For role models in God’s likeness: mothers and fathers in the faith;
For courage to live and profess our faith;
For a culture of blessings.
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