God Bless You!

 

I’ve been sneezing lately. I don’t usually have allergies, perhaps it’s the cat shedding. I’m hearing “God Bless You” a lot. There is debate over its origin as a response to sneezing. Some say it goes back to the Middle Ages when the plague was active, with one of the symptoms being sneezing. Anyone who sneezed could have the plague and thereby be very much in need of God’s help.

 

I read something online yesterday from a lady who didn’t want people to say “God Bless You” to her because she didn’t believe in God. Myself, I like it when people say it to me and I like to say it to others. I try to say it meaningfully and not just as a reflex action. It may bother some people, but it’s my very tiny way of witnessing to others.

 

God told Aaron that He wanted him, as the Israelites’ High Priest, to pronounce this blessing on the people, “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). We would do well to pray this prayer of blessing for others and to share it with them. We all need a word of encouragement from time to time, knowing that God is on our side, that we are not alone.

 

We can take this same blessing into our own hearts today, because Jesus, our Mediator and Great High Priest, is interceding for us to the Father. God will bless us, protect us, and show us His favor. His grace and peace are ours.

 

It’s good to remember that God is blessing us every day. Living with that thought in our minds and hearts makes our lives fuller and better. May God’s blessings be yours today.

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The individual posts in this blog have been collected into a book, Reflections From the Basic Truths Blog.  It is available for free as an E-book through Barnes and Noble, https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reflections-from-the-basic-truths-blog-james-yarmchuk/1147055811?ean=2940181202702, Apple Books, and multiple other book websites. It is available for a minimal charge on Amazon and can also be purchased as a paperback through them.