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Category: Blessings for responders

  • Day 5–The Final Blessings

    Scripture reading for June 26: Revelation 22:7 (Jesus) “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this Book.” vs 12-14 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing My recompense with Me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”

    The final recorded blessing from our Lord given to John is given to those who will hear and heed the prophetic announcements and warnings he was told to record at the beginning of his book. (Revelation 1:3) We notice the repetition of the words, “I am coming soon” by Jesus Christ. This promise was to be held closely by each faith responder as they worked and waited for the promise to find final fulfilment. But God did not reveal the exact timing of these final events. If we knew when, then we would not need to live by faith. But because we live by faith, we actively seek to be clothed in Christ’s robes of righteousness through Spirit-filled living. We gather with God’s people to worship Him and study His Word to prepare our hearts to enter the Holy City and eat eternally from the Tree of Life. We daily seek to proclaim the Gospel to those in our world.

    But there is a warning from God concerning those who are shut out of the Holy City. These are those who refused to repent of their wicked deeds but instead practiced rebellion. These sought sorcerers and used drugs and alcohol in their idolatry. They practiced all forms of sexual immorality and violence to murder or enslave others. They were liars and loved falsehood, thereby hating the Truth found in Jesus Christ. Their place will be in the lake of fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. (Revelation 20:10, 15)

    Prayer: Lord Jesus, Come! Your soon return is my hope and future desire. Lead me today by Your Holy Spirit to share this Good News of our eternal reward of a heavenly city and a Tree of Life! May all first responders become faith responders. Amen.

  • Day 4–Peace and Love With Faith

    Scripture reading for June 18: Ephesians 6:23-24“Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.”

    Today’s short blessing from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is full of encouragement that reinforces the other blessings we already covered. The Aaronic blessing of Numbers 6:23-27 declared God’s smile of favor over His people giving them His peace. Jesus declared the blessedness of peacemakers being called the sons of God, reinforcing our identity as belonging to God’s eternal family. (Matthew 5:9) The blessing in Hebrews declared our Father as the God of peace Who made peace for us through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. This act demonstrates true love to us and enables us to have faith, which works by love. (Galatians 5:6) Paul declared peace to the brothers (and sisters) in this blessing for today.

    Paul also declared love with faith to the believers from God the Father and the Lord Jesus. God’s love always acts for the highest good of the other, regardless of cost. God our Father in love gave us who believe the gift of the Holy Spirit Who confirms to us our identity as God’s children. God is love and true love is from God. His children should reflect His love. Jesus taught Holy Spirit becomes in us a river of God’s love flowing out of us. (John 7:38-39) (Romans 5:5) Because we know His amazing love, we can now respond by loving Him and loving our brothers and sisters. (1 John 4:10-12) This means working for their highest good, regardless of cost to us.

    But love on our part can be corrupted. We can say we love God and yet hold hatred for our brothers or sisters. We can declare we love our brothers and sisters, yet close our heart to helping them in need. (1 John 3:17) When our love is corrupted, God’s grace to us is restricted by our own heart attitude. His flow of love through us is also restricted for those we are sent to help.

    Prayer: Father God continue to reveal to me, a first responder, Your great love in Jesus Christ. Reveal any heart attitudes that corrupt my love for You or hinder Your love flowing through me to others. I receive this blessing of peace and love with faith from You and our Lord Jesus Christ and want to pass it on. Amen.

  • Day 3–Equipping Blessing

    Scripture reading for June 17: Hebrews 13:20-21 “Now may the God of peace Who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

    The writer of Hebrews closed his letter with a short prayer and blessing. This prayer confesses Jesus as Lord and our Great Shepherd. It humbly asks that through the blood of the eternal covenant Christ Jesus would equip us with everything we need to fulfill His will and that He would work into our character and life that which pleases Him. The blessing closes with a declaration of ascribed glory to Jesus Christ forever and ever!

    This prayer and blessing is a good one for responders to declare daily over their lives. Let’s look at the Names of God mentioned in the blessing. First, ‘The God of peace” is acknowledged. Peace is one of the fruits of God’s Holy Spirit and peacemaking is one of the blessings taught by Jesus in yesterday’s devotion. (Matthew 5:9) Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be known as the ‘Prince of Peace’ in Isaiah 9:6. Jesus brings us peace through forgiveness of sins by His sacrifice of His body and blood on the cross. Now our resurrected Lord Jesus mediates our peace by prayer seated at the Father’s right hand. He equips us to become peacemakers and bless others, reflecting God’s nature.

    Jesus is also our ‘Good Shepherd’ and here addressed as ‘the Great Shepherd of the sheep.’ Shepherds guide the sheep, leading them to safe pastures and streams of water. They give the sheep everything they need to follow and reproduce. Shepherds also protect the sheep from wolves and predators. The Great Shepherd provides everything we need to do His will and works His plans into our lives as His sheep. All good sheep can only give glory to Jesus Christ, the Great Shepherd forever and ever!

    Prayer: Father God, thank You that You are made known to us as ‘the God of peace’ and our ‘Great Shepherd’ Who made with us an eternal covenant of peace through Jesus’ shed blood. I surrender to You to work in me what is pleasing in Your sight equipping me to do Your will. To You be glory forever! Amen.

  • Day 2–Blessedness of Jesus’ Followers

    Scripture reading for June 16: Matthew 5:2-10 “And He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

    The sermon on the mount is the first major recorded teaching of Jesus and it begins with a short discourse on blessedness from the King of the kingdom of heaven. As first responders, it is good to review what heart attitudes that Jesus recommends as blessed. First He commends those who are poor in spirit and those who mourn. Responders regularly encounter people who are down in their spirit and lack hope. They also help people who are in mourning over life circumstances or loss. Jesus reminds us that the kingdom of heaven is opened to these people. Comfort from heaven flows to those mourning. As responders, we are God’s hand extended to them.

    Jesus stated that the meek or humble person would inherit the earth. Our attitude of humility opens us up to the world of God’s amazing grace and we can humbly receive God’s authority and identity, enabling us to rule our own souls first and then greater things. When we hunger and thirst for righteousness, God promises our satisfaction in our lowly state as He pours out forgiveness of sins and gives us His righteousness.

    As responders, mercy should be our heart attitude towards those we encounter. We should act towards each person with a pure heart and a calm and peaceable demeanor. The pure in heart see God and reflect God to others. Peacemakers represent God’s heart for all mankind. Even if we are persecuted or suffer for doing good, we belong to the King and His kingdom.

    Prayer: Father God, thank You for helping me to understand true blessedness by revealing these principles of Your kingdom. Make me a blessing to the mourning and poor in spirit. Use me to show mercy and make peace among those in conflict. In Christ’s blessing may I reside. Amen.

  • Week 25–Day 1–An Ancient Blessing

    Scripture reading for June 15: Numbers 6:23-27 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.’ So shall they put My Name upon the people of Israel and I will bless them.”

    God always desires to bless His people and He is the source of all blessing on earth and in heaven. The word for blessing means to be highly favored and showered with good gifts that come through covenant relationship with God the source of all blessing. One of the blessings of God include a good wife or husband that brings you joy and children. God blesses those who work with increase. Rain is a blessing and seeds multiplying thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold are blessings. He blesses our food and water so that we have nourishment and a safe food and health in our bodies. (Exodus 23:25-26) Flocks and herds multiply and give milk and meat and fruit trees and vineyards produce harvests. Peace is a blessing promised by Jesus Christ. (John 16:33)

    God instructed Aaron and his sons in the priesthood to bless His people by speaking a blessing over them. Since God is not a man that He should lie, everything He commands is true and will come to pass. The first phrase of this blessing simply states that the Lord will bless you and in the process of that blessing He will keep you from all harm and provide all you need for life and godliness. The next phase of this blessing declares God’s smiling countenance lifted up over you. The idea is that God is rejoicing over you and smiling with joy, giving you His peace. This blessing was to put God’s Name on His people, marking them as objects of His extreme blessing in His forever family.

    As responders who represent God’s blessing to those we are sent to, we can rejoice at God’s blessing of us as well as others. As you go to an incident, picture God lifted up over you and His smile radiating approval and love, giving you peace. Better yet, in the New Covenant, Jesus is present with us in the Holy Spirit indwelling us with His joy and peace. Let it flow from you to others by the smile on your face! Amen.