The Power of Blessings

May God be gracious to us and bless us

and make his face to shine upon us,

that your way may be known upon earth,

your saving power among all nations.

(from Psalm 67)

Blessings are powerful.

Both Jewish and Christion worship services typically end with Aaron’s blessing based on Numbers 6:24-26.

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.

Blessing’s Power

In the Bible, the concept of God’s blessing is essential since it indicates that God is causing the earth’s productivity.

God’s blessing involves giving sunshine and rain, good and seasonable weather, so that crops grow producing a bountiful harvest.

So, when the earth produces a plentiful harvest, it is a time for praising God.

Blessing by Grace Alone

God’s blessing action are available by grace alone.

The Law, Ten Commandments for example, were not earned by Israel, but an unexpected, welcome gift of grace.

God blesses whom God chooses, when God chooses, for the reasons God chooses.

God’s blessings are gracious, surprising, unexpected gifts.

Abraham is surprised by God announcing that Sarah will be blessed and have a son by him: an unexpected gift of grace.

Mary is surprised by God’s announcement saying she will be “blessed” for all future generations

Blessing for Mission

According to Genesis, God’s people are blessed for the mission of blessing to other nations about the Good News of their saving God.

Jesus confirms this when he instructs his disciples saying: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

The River of Life

Then the angel showed me the

river of the water of life, bright as crystal,

flowing from the throne of God and of

the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city.

(from Rev. 21:10, 22—22:5)

I live in the Upper Delaware Scenic National Recreation Area.

This amazing section of the Delaware River is famous for its rafting, canoeing, and kayaking on calm water and whitewater.

The awesome, scenic sections include The Hawks Nest cliffs, and observing Bald Eagles overhead.

The river is fed by numerous magnificent waterfalls, some flowing hundreds of feet.

Usually, the waterfalls cascade peacefully and clearly into a stream flowing to the river.

After heavy rainstorms the tributaries surge gathering dirt as they head to the river.

The river becomes a muddy brown, overflowing the banks, flooding the campsites, and contains dangerous whirlpools capable of drowning a person.

This is the watershed reality of the Delaware River Scenic Recreation Area.

It can, at times, be life-taking and far from crystal clear.

The River may symbolize the watershed of our lives.

Don’t we all live in a watershed though?

John’s vision in Revelation 22:1 says there is a river of life, crystal clear, flowing from the throne of God for the healing of the nations.

As the river of life flows through our city centers doesn’t it bring hope?

It seems to me there is a hope for a New Jerusalem, a re-creation containing fruit-bearing trees of life.

As I read these verses from Revelation, I continue to hope for a future cleansed by God by God’s life-giving water of life.

Each time we witness a baptism or renew our baptism vows, it is a reminder we are included in God’s life-giving river.    

God Dwelling With Us

  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

“See, the home of God is among mortals.

God will dwell with them;

they will be his peoples,

and God himself will be with them and be their God;"

From Rev. 21:1-6

Sometimes I just feel like starting over.

That’s especially true when Reflections On My Elder Road doesn’t seem to come together with a hopeful, helpful message.

What makes it more confusing is that we seem to be living in apocalyptic times, when everything feels out of sorts and spinning out of control.

That’s when I get another cup of coffee, prayerfully meditate on nature outside my study window, and begin again.

The starting over part begins when I apply 3 principles.

First, I research, as much as possible, the original language of the text.

There I find out that John, the writer uses the Greek verb aperchomai meaning depart, so heaven and earth have departed.

In the meantime, a new earth and heaven will come down from God.

God comes to us.

Second, The Greek preposition, meta, meaning with, is lost in translation.

God is with us, dwells with us, will be with us.

Third, the words “home” and “dwell” are literally translated as tent.

See, the tent of God is among mortals, God will tent with them as their God…

For me, a powerful section of these verses is the image of God wiping away tears.

In our apocalyptic times when life seems to spin out of control, God’s tent is set up among us.

God has come to dwell among God’s people, even in our moments of pain and suffering.

What an image of hope!

God bringing a new earth and heaven, God’s tent among us, God comforting us.

What a vision of redemption!

Thank You

Dear Reflection On My Elder Road Follower,

I would like to thank you for following my new from of ministry, Reflections On My Elder Road, through its evolution. 

It has been a growing experience as I learned how to use different technologies in assorted ways. 

Some of the content has been more difficult to write about since I generally follow the Revised Standard Lectionary and I appreciate your continued reading through these posts.

Positive feedback is always helpful which may be done thorough the "comments" link at the bottom of the post or through my email address: trollrevpa@gmail.com 

Rich

3 Lessons From Revelation 7

“Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?”

 I said to him, “Sir, you are the one who knows.” 

Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal;

 they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

(from Revelation 7:9-17)

Revelation is widely misunderstood and misinterpreted

A deeper understanding of Revelation’s meaning is its theology of baptism and the sealing of the saints.

Revelation claims we are not baptized from sickness, betrayals, wars and other disasters but prepared to face them in our faith journey.

Rather we are baptized into two types of churches: The church triumphant, the one in heaven with those dressed in white robes and the church militant, the ones still on earth.

The church militant, in the final period awaiting God’s coming, is called to face terrorism, HIV/AIDS, hunger, wars, and any form evil with enduring faith as Jesus Christ did.

Christians wanting to go to heaven, miss the point of making it through the Great Tribulation means being part of the celebrating triumphant Church in 7: 9 – 17.

The First Lesson: all Christians are candidates for tribulation in some form and whatever comes their way, it is paramount to follow the Lamb’s way.

The being clothed in white robes with the Lamb’s blood is the spiritual state of those holding on to their faith in the midst of life’s chaos

The Second Lesson: the imagery of washing robes in the Lamb’s blood is symbolic of aligning our life with the cause of Jesus Christ.

Christians are called not to be comfortable in the distorted standard values of the contemporary empire but to always focus their joy on the coming heaven mentioned in Revelation 21 – 22.

The Third Lesson:

God does not inflict pain on his people but he is compassionate and tender to all who believe and follow in the steps of the Lamb.

Thousands of Singing Voices

"They numbered myriads of myriads and 

thousands of thousands, singing with full voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might

and honor and glory and blessing!”

(from Revelation 5:11-14)

 What and invitation!

John hears and sees a heavenly chorus, summoning us to join him hearing and watching.

John’s invites us to demonstrate our loyalty to God, the Lamb, and the Holy Spirit in a life of worship.

By joining him we take part in a heavenly “worshipping world”.

In this worshipping world God alone is worthy to be given honor, praise, and worship.

Within this worshipping world, it’s impossible to count the multitudes circling the throne revealing the scope God’s honor, glory, and might.

Imagine the whole company of heaven, the myriad and thousands, praising Jesus!

These voices and this new song of jubilation come from the certainty of God’s reign.

We all go through life’s ups and downs, hills and valleys and are well aware of the pain.

As we go through the trials and tribulations, it’s easy to lose sight of the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb.

During Sunday worship as we sing and praise God’s glory and might, the ordeals we face are transformed into a reality where God is in control.

The song of a worshipping congregation overturns the present reality of pain and transforms that reality into a visionary reality — where God is in control.

Sing with the heavenly chorus, sing!

We’re aware the travail isn’t over, but that God has the final word.

Amen!