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I am using readings from the 49 Week Bible Challenge as the basis for these devotions. I encourage you to join me in this discipline. Today’s readings are Acts 3; Genesis 26; Deuteronomy 18; 2 Kings 13.
Acts 3:1-8
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
Genesis 26:1-5
Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar to Abimelech king of the Philistines. 2 And the Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you. 3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father. 4 I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, 5 because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”
Too often we tie our ability to bless others to our own resources. We’re not rich enough to give money to help end poverty. We don’t have enough time to volunteer to work with the youth of the church. We don’t know enough to lead a Bible study. Our time, talent, and treasure never go far enough.
Peter had no silver or gold, but that did not stop him from blessing the beggar at the Temple. He gave what he did have – that which had been entrusted to him. He had the ability to heal, a gift from Jesus, and he used it to heal the crippled beggar.
Isaac didn’t have the direct promise of God as Abraham had received – until this time in his life (Genesis 26). But then come those same words as were spoken to his father Abraham (“Abram” at the time). “In your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,” God says.
Today we are abundantly and richly blessed in so many ways. We have more leisure time than ever before in history. We have physical and financial blessings we may only have dreamed of decades ago. Our physical health for many of us brings us into our 80s and 90s. We are richly blessed.
God never intended that those blessings die with us. We are blessed to be a blessing. The moral impetus for that lies in the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation brought to us through Jesus’ redeeming work. As Ephesians 1:3 says, we are “blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms” because we are in Christ.
Some Christians love to give subtle witness to God’s goodness and grace by answering, “I’m blessed,” when asked how they are doing. I like to say I’m grateful, which implies that I’ve been blessed, but goes on to acknowledge that God deserves the praise for his goodness and grace to me. Add to that a sincere desire to bless others, and the blessings of God come full circle. We have been blessed to be a blessing. Let’s live that out as best we can every day.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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