12/03/2022
God blesses us and we are thankful for our blessing, but does God’s commitment to His blessing end once it is given? Does the Lord bless us and then simply walk away? Sarah had a son but her blessing didn’t end there. It continued when the Lord provided a sacrifice for him later in life as Abraham was preparing to sacrifice him. Again, when God gave the Shunammite woman a son at Elisha’s request it didn’t end there either… later in his life he died, and God raised him from the dead for her. Our blessings are not simply events… they have eternal lives and continue on. Do we believe, and have confidence in this, or do we see our blessings like lightening in the sky that flashes and then is gone? The Shunammite woman didn’t see her blessing as having an expiration date… do we?
“And he said, “Why will you go to him today? It is neither new moon nor Sabbath.” She said, “All is well.””
2 Kings 4:23 ESV
In this verse the Shunamite woman’s son was dead, but when her husband asked her why she was going to see Elisha she didn’t acknowledge this; she simply told him that “All is well”. Do we have such faith regarding the promises, gifts, and blessing we are given? She gave the same response when Elisha asked her if all was well… listen.
“So she set out and came to the man of God [Elisha] at Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her coming, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Look, there is the Shunammite. Run at once to meet her and say to her, ‘Is all well with you? Is all well with your husband? Is all well with the child?’” And she answered, “All is well.””
2 Kings 4:25-26 ESV
Is our faith this strong? When we are given a gift by God do we believe that once given the Lord is done with it, and when it is done it is done?
“Then she said, “Did I ask my Lord for a son? Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me?’” Then the mother of the child said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So he arose and followed her. When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed. So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the Lord. Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm. Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. Then he summoned Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, “Pick up your son.””
2 Kings 4:28, 30, 32-36 ESV
We may not be childless and given a child, but God does bless us on occasion, and gives us gifts of the Spirit. Do we think that these are temporary, or that He will take them away once given? Do we think that if God gives someone the gift of intercession or healing that this gift will be taken away?
“For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”
Romans 11:29 ESV
No… although we may cease to use them the gifts remain, and this is true of our blessings, and every promise God makes to us as well. If God blesses us like He did with the coming of Jesus Christ, He will never walk away from that… even though we might. When our Father promised us eternal life through Christ did we think it came with an expiration date, or a usage clause?
““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
John 3:16-18 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the strength of your Word and every promise, blessing, and gift you give us. Help us in our unbelief Abba, because your dedication to these spoken wonders are without question or end. You love us, and have never ceased to love us, even when we were lost in sin. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who never abandons us, is always with us, and whose every Word and promise is true, never failing us, and never being withdrawn. Praised be your name for knowing the beginning from the end, and giving us blessings, callings, and gifts, knowing these full well. Merciful are you, especially in your grace that flows over us through Jesus Christ. Wash us in His blood Lord, and cleanse us of our every sin. Lift us up just as you resurrected Him, and give us your promised eternity with you. Remove our doubts and replace them with faith because this gift, like all others, will never be taken from us, and will grow and blossom next to the stream of living water that flows from your Word, and the gospel of Jesus. Love us Father, and receive our love for you… always, and forevermore; never ending, and irrevocable in its nature. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah!
“but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8 ESV
Rich Forbes