What is It? Part Two

Taylor Fields tells the story of a homeless man in New York City’s Lower East Side by the name of George.  This man had been living on the streets since he was 13 years old when he ran away from home.  Although he was a man of the street he also had a passion for people.  Fields relates that George had ordered an ordination certificate from the back of a magazine, though he never received it.  However, this didn’t stop George from attempting to carry out ministerial duties.  In fact, Fields would often find George counseling individuals and discovered that George wanted more than anything to have a place of his own in order to help those less fortunate than he.  He wanted an apartment with running hot and cold water, a heater for the winter months, a shower, and a stove for him to cook on.  George wanted out of the street life in order to serve the street life. 

The day came for George when he received word from the Housing Department that he had been approved for housing assistance.  George moved into that dream apartment of his.  When he received the blessing of his own place he did not forget what his dream had been.  He made his place available to friends in need.  The irony of the situation is George called his apartment the Sanctuary of Hope.  In fact, George had business cards printed bearing his name, address, and The Sanctuary of Hope offering the cards to his friends old and new as a way of introducing them to a place of hope.  George recognized his blessing and offered that same blessing to minister to those in need.

Last week I shared a thought on the blessing of Israel when they received the manna from heaven.  Their question was “What is it?”   I asked how many times we receive a blessing from God only to ask the same question as the Israelites.  In the same line of thinking I wonder how many times we receive a blessing from God only to forget the reason God blessed us.  His blessings are for a purpose.  However, we often forget that the purpose is to bring glory to God rather than to prompt us with comfort and pleasure.  Those are a by-product of God’s blessings.  When God blesses us materially we should use it for God’s glory.  When He blesses us emotionally or spiritually we should in turn use that blessing for God’s glory and to give praise to him.  There is a song often sung in churches titled Blessed Be the Name of the Lord which part of it says, “Every blessing You pour out, I'll turn back to praise.”  This is the intent of our Lord Jesus Christ when He offers blessings unto us; we must turn them back to Him in praise.

As I think about the blessings God has offered unto this great church and unto each of us individually I wonder how we are doing in the praise department.  Have we given back to God an offering of praise?  Have we offered up a Sacrifice of Praise unto our great and giving God?  Today why not stop where you are and take an evaluation of the ways in which God has offered blessings unto you.  When you have your inventory list ask two questions.  First, have I offered these blessings back to God in praise?  Secondly, how have I used the blessings which God has given unto me?

Whatever it takes,

Pastor Ric