“The Lord bless you, and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace” (Number 6:24-26).
A Christian can be so consumed with his or her shortcomings and sins that they forget God has mercy and grace to help them. A faithful child of God can put so much emphasis on living for God that they neglect the biblical fact that the Lord wants to bless them. A devoted disciple of Jesus may put so much pressure on themselves to serve Jesus that they never contemplate that Jesus wants them enjoy their relationship with Him.
While the children of Israel were wandering around in the wilderness they made a mess of things. Even then, God wanted to bless them indeed. Number 6:24-26 is in the midst of the wilderness wanderings in which they messed up time after time.
It is always God’s desire to bless NOT condemn. The most quoted passage in the bible reads, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (Jn. 3:16-17).
Think about a loving father with his children. Does he want his kids to spend all of their time apologizing for mistakes they’ve made and never letting up on themselves to do better and never focusing on enjoying their relationship with their father?
Read Psalm 103 and listen to a great biblical truth in the song entitled Bless Me Indeed by MercyMe.
Psalm 103
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
The Lord performs righteous deeds
And judgments for all who are oppressed.
He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the sons of Israel.
The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.
For He Himself knows our frame;
He is mindful that we are but dust.
As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
When the wind has passed over it, it is no more,
And its place acknowledges it no longer.
But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children,
To those who keep His covenant
And remember His precepts to do them.
The Lord has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.
Bless the Lord, you His angels,
Mighty in strength, who perform His word,
Obeying the voice of His word!
Bless the Lord, all you His hosts,
You who serve Him, doing His will.
Bless the Lord, all you works of His,
In all places of His dominion;
Bless the Lord, O my soul!