The Most Beautiful Calling

God lives and works today. Through Jesus Christ, He has given us many wonderful callings, but who knows about one of the holiest, most beautiful of these, the calling to bless one another. As we read in 1 Peter 3.9, do not return evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you have been called.

In today's meditation by Basilea Schlink, we will be taking a look at what it means to be called to bless. How often and how lightly we say, God bless you. However, have you ever realized that these three words contain great power when used in the right way? We are called as Christians to pass on the blessing of salvation to others.

As we read in 1 Peter chapter 2, we are called to be the royal priesthood. This means to bless, to bring joy. Yet only he who stands in prayer before God with clean hands and garments can be used to be a blessing for others.

This means we must first confess our sins, if necessary also before men, and in repentance must permit ourselves to be cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Then we will have power to bless others, to bestow the blessing for which the world, our homes, our congregations, our community wait. We would like to share with you a story which will make this more vivid.

Some time ago, a devout woman who is used by the Lord in intercessory prayer wrote to us telling that with her new tenant, a spirit of unrest and trouble had come into her home. Then she realized, it's not a matter of complaining about the other woman, not of judging her, but here I may make use of our authority as an intercessor and pray a blessing upon her. In prayer, she therefore laid the name of Jesus, the Savior, upon her tenant's rooms asking that Jesus would permeate and rule it with his saving power so that no other spirit could maintain itself.

She also placed the Savior's name in blessing upon this discontented woman asking that the power of Jesus' blood might flow through her and free her from all the darkness and evil of her life. She prayed thus day after day. After a short time, the sullen morose spirit yielded.

The woman's anxiety left her and something of God's peace controlled her. Yes, in saying a blessing, there is a bestowing of life, bringing bliss and happiness to others. And to this we Christians are called, just as our Master is Savior, bringer of salvation, so ought we, his members, carry out this soul-saving office of imparting blessing and joy.

Therefore, let's separate ourselves from all sin and let ourselves be cleansed in the blood of the Lamb so that we can have the authority to bless, so that we can be used to bring others to our Lord Jesus. Oh, make me Thine, my Savior, Lord most holy, that I may only live to give Thee glory. Oh, make me Thine.

You have been listening to a program written by Basilea Schlink of the Little Land of Canaan. To learn more about how God lives and works today, visit us at our website, www.canaan.org. That's K-A-N-A-A-N dot org. If you contact us, we would be happy to send you a free inspirational booklet.

If you do not have access to the web, please contact this radio station for our postal address. God bless you.