God is the Source of Our Blessings
Hi, I’m Joni and this song is about blessing God and blessing others.
Come, thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above;
Praise the Mount! I’m fix upon it!
Mount of Thy redeeming love.
God is the fount, isn’t He? The wonderful source of every blessing you enjoy. Think of it: beautiful, bright sunny days, cool summer showers, peaches and cream, a BBQ with your best friends, freedom of worship (how about that), blessings of a home that’s secure, family that cares, and so much more. And just why does God bless us? Well, that we might thank Him for every good gift and that we might pass on those blessings to others.
My husband Ken does this with me. He is not so quick with the rebukes and corrections, but he is much quicker with the appreciations and blessings and encouragements — and that ensures that when Ken does criticize me, I always hear it in the larger context of love. Normally, the sting of a rebuke would outweigh everything, but in the face of many previous blessings, I’m able to take his criticisms with a good attitude.
To bless others is the very calling of the Christian. It says so in First Peter Chapter 3, verse 9, “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you might obtain a blessing.” There you have it. You bless someone else, that person receives your blessing, and God blesses you for blessing somebody else. Part of God’s mercy to us when we take the time to refresh others is the boomerang effect talked about in Proverbs 11:25 where it says, “He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” It’s the old story of reaping what you sow. Do you want your relationships to be more refreshing to you? Then find a way to bless others — bless your husband, your kids and grandkids, your coworkers, your neighbors, your friends at church — and God will, in turn, refresh your heart, He will bless your life. And before long, what do you know, you’ll gain a reputation for being a genuine encourager. You’ll be known for your affirmations, not your criticisms and corrections. That’s what happened to Barnabas in the book of Acts — he’s even called there the son of encouragement.
Now you might not think you are good at blessing: at affirming others, thanking them, pointing out their strengths, appreciating their work, highlighting their good character qualities, affirming their generous spirit, whatever. You may feel like you are not good at it at first, and it may not come easy to you, but God will help you. After all, it’s God who wants to bless you in return.
And I have a way I want to bless you today. I’d like to send you this 12-page foldout that highlights the names of God. It’s perfect to tuck in your Bible, perfect to use as a resource when you pray, and great to use during your times of worship. So write me on my radio page today at joniandfriends.org. Because today, don’t forget Proverbs 11:25, “He who refreshes others will be refreshed.”
Previously aired on 7/18/12 as program #7883
© Joni and Friends
The Names of Jesus Booklet
This booklet describes 50 names of Jesus, their meanings, applications, and where they are referenced in the Bible. Knowing these names allows you to worship in new ways and meditate on His characteristics.
