A GRACIOUS BLESSER

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

But Samuel was ministering before the Lord -a boy wearing a linen ephod. Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, "May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the Lord." Then they would go home.

And the Lord was gracious to Hannah; she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.

1 Samuel 2:18-21

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

To be gracious.

It involves an action that is marked by love or kindness or compassion or mercy or courtesy or generosity of spirit…or any combination of these.

Hannah had been in a spirit of despair and depression…barren and under verbal attack by her husband’s other wife who had already bore him children. So emotionally distraught that she refused to eat and could not control her weeping, she turned to the Lord and made an oath:

"O Lord Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” 1 Samuel 1:11

And in response to her plea, the Lord showed His love…His compassion…His mercy…and His generosity of spirit, opening Hannah’s womb and allowing her to conceive. She would give birth to Samuel and then make good on her vow to “give him to the Lord for all the days of his life”, turning Samuel over to the care of Eli, the high priest, where he would remain.

As this devotion’s scripture opens, we discover young Samuel busy “ministering before the Lord” while wearing a “linen ephod” (an apron worn for special rites). Unlike Eli’s sons, Samuel was obedient to the Lord and served Him with respect in the “house of the Lord in Shiloh”. We read where Hannah and Elkanah would come regularly to offer their annual sacrifice and during that time, Hannah would also bring her son a robe that she made especially for him.

Her actions did not go unnoticed for Eli recognized the love that Hannah had for not only her son but the Lord as well…and wished special blessings upon her and her husband saying, “May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the Lord." And the Lord heard Eli’s words and responded…graciously.

For scripture tells us that Hannah would again conceive and give “birth to three sons and two daughters” all this while “Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord”. She had surrendered her son to God but gained an abundance in return for her faithful obedience and sacrifice. And the good news for us today is that God still is the same Gracious Blesser that He was back in Hannah’s time.

So just how does the God bless us graciously? Let’s look at other scriptures in the Bible to answer that question.

1. God blesses graciously through His compassion.

…the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Isaiah 30:18

These words from the prophet Isaiah tells us that the Lord is a God of justice. As such, He is free to dole out pardon or penalty, depending on what He sees fit given any given circumstance with us. Now considering we are all sinners, we could find ourselves under penalty most of the time if it weren’t for the God’s gracious compassion…a gracious compassion that He longs to give each and every one of us. We need only seek to walk in His ways every day and confess our sins when they happen, asking for His forgiveness and receiving His mercy.

2. God blesses graciously through His loving goodness.

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all;
He has compassion on all he has made. Psalm 145:8-9

What a blessing it is to know we serve a God who is good to us! And not just a chosen few. No, God is good to all!

Indeed, God wants only the best for all His children…for all he has made…and stands ready to provide for our needs in accordance with His will for our lives. Such is the richness of His goodness and gracious love for us all.

3. God blesses graciously when His face shines upon us.

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, Selah, that Your ways may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. Psalm 67:1-2

We find favor with God when we stay obedient to His word, will and way. Hannah certainly was and in return she experienced the blessings that come when God’s face shines upon one He is pleased with. Like Hannah, we should ever seek to turn to God in times of trouble and sacrifice to Him just as He has sacrificed for us. Hannah gave her son to God and later, God gave His Son for us. And this leads to the final point on God’s graciousness…

4. God blessed us graciously when he gave us His Son, Jesus.

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:31-32

God’s greatest display of graciousness, mercy and love came in Him sending His one and only Son, Jesus, to live and die for us. This God who created us…this Almighty, Infinitely Powerful Lord of the universe who can do anything without us…still decided to save us and to do so by sacrificing all He had.

Given this, should we not graciously give God everything we have as well?

Friends, let us never take for granted how good God is. He loves us dearly and blesses us all graciously.

I appreciate all of you so much who faithfully read the words God places on my heart every day and offer this prayer, echoing words from the Book of Numbers:

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

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