The Blessing

“The Lord had said to Abram, `Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you;

I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you,

And whoever curses you I will curse;

And all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’”

(Genesis 12: 1 – 3 NIV)

“For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written, `Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.’ Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because `the righteous will live by faith.’ The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says `The person who does these things will live by them.’ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: `Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.’ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” (Galatians 3: 10 – 14 NIV)

We have, indeed, received the blessing of Abraham through Christ Jesus. The curse of the law which revealed to us our sin has been removed through the death of Jesus and proven by the resurrection. We now are able, through faith, to live in victory over sin, the world, and the devil.

As I searched for images to illustrate the blessing of Abraham I came across a quote from Abraham Lincoln. I see this as important to our article this morning:

“To believe in the things you can see and touch is no belief at all; but to believe in the unseen is a triumph and a blessing.” Abraham Lincoln

We have been provided a great blessing in and through Jesus Christ. That blessing is described as victory:

Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16: 33 NIV)

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” (John 15: 1 – 4 NIV)

“I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has not hold over me, but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.” (John 14: 30, 31 NIV)

So you see that in Christ Jesus we have the blessing that was promised to Abraham. Victory over sin, the world, and the devil are afforded to us in Christ Jesus. These are to be grasped and applied to our lives through faith. The invisible kingdom of God becomes reality in our lives by seeing what is invisible through the eyes of faith.