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BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING        Craig A. Cooper
 
And I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.. Genesis 12:2
 
Here is the divine intent behind the blessing of Abram. God purposed to prosper Abram and to make his name great as Abraham (see Gen. 17:5), so that he would be a blessing. Indeed, in him all the families of the earth are blessed, as Abraham is the spiritual father of those who live by faith in Christ (Gen. 12:3b): “So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith” (Gal. 3:9).

Proverbs affirms that “a good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold” (Prov. 22:1), but the Lord gave Abraham all of it: a good name, favor, and great riches (Gen. 13:2).
Yet none of this blessing from above was due to Abraham’s own personal merit.
 
It was solely out of God’s sheer benevolent goodness and sovereign mercy. It’s clear that Abraham was not a perfect man (see Gen. 12:10-20). The blessing of God was by the mercy of God, for the glory of God, and for the blessing of countless others.

Believer, the same is true for you as it was for Abraham. If you are blessed by God—if your name is made great as you experience the favor of a good reputation, or if you are entrusted with the power of increased riches, or if you experience the blessing of both riches and reputation— remember the divine intent.

The Lord is blessing you so that you will be a blessing, Stagnant waters are breeding grounds for disease and death, but a flowing brook breeds life. Just as it says in Ezekiel, “wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live…. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes” (Ezek. 47:9).
 
Blessed believers are designed as conduits of divine mercy and blessing for others. You are blessed to be a blessing. So go and enrich the lives of everyone around you for the glory of God above.
 
Where do you believe the Lord has blessed you so that you will be a blessing?