Daily Devotional for Saturday, December 28

Blessed with Faithful Abraham

"So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham;· Galatians 3:9.

be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham;· Galatians 3:9.

Being from the southern part of the United States, I hear the word "bless" often. "Bless her little heart," "Bless it," and "What ablessing" are common phrases still today. Granted, the use of the word bless in those instances does not mean bestowed holiness or favor. In fact, in each of those instances, sarcasm and pity accompany its use. At each meal, someone is chosen to bless the food, an act which should be reverent in asking for the Lord to bless the food we are about to put into our bodies turns into a rushed, insincere prayer or joke about the calories we are about to consume. Sometimes, when we hear a word used too often in the wrong context it loses its true meaning. Then when we try to use it in the correct way, it just does not seem as impactful. Many of our hymns and songs of worship bless the name of the Lord. This is an expression of complete adoration and exultation in response to who He is and the blessings He has bestowed upon us. Many times we just sing the words out of repetition and forget how powerful and holy the act of blessing someone is.

Paul told the Galatians in verse 9, "So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham." The transition words "so then" at the beginning of this verse refer to the previous verse when Paul quoted Genesis 12:3; 22:18 that all nations would be blessed through Abraham. This is speaking of the future Messiah, the seed of Abraham, Jesus Christ. Abraham believed there was a coming Messiah, just as the Gentile believers believed Jesus is the Messiah, so then all believers share in the same blessings of Abraham. These blessings include justification of sin, salvation from eternal damnation, an inheritance in the kingdom of Heaven and the acceptance of our worship. We have been made holy and acceptable to the God of the universe and will worship Him forever in Heaven.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Hold tight to the blessings God has given you as an heir of the kingdom.

Ashley Ridings