This is a season when people are very open to being blessed.  You may be tempted to  forgo the effort to bless others – afterall, people are giving and receiving gifts, telling others “Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays/Happy Chanukah/Seasons Greetings”, holding doors, showing kindnesses, and paying it forward.  This is a time of year when no one seems to have the corner on being a blessing.  If it has occurred to you (as it occurred to me) that our blessing of others may not stand out that much, that it may not be so strategic, that only exposes our sinful nature.  We may bless others strategically to advance the gospel, be we don’t bless others to be strategic!  That kind of thinking twists blessing others into something yucky.  Bless others because that is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus.  Bless others intentionally because it is easy to go through our days in our own little worlds.

So, in this season of blessing others, bless people intentionally today and every day.

Bless them big.  Bless them small.  Bless them with words, with actions, by giving and by receiving.  Bless them anyway you can, whether they know it or not, appreciate it or not, connect it to Jesus or not.  Bless them  regardless.  This isn’t about being a disciple, being missional, being incarnational, or any of those things (though it may be about all of those things)  Intentionally bless others…

Because God so loved the world…

Because Jesus came to us when we could not come to him…

Because as the Father sent Jesus, so Jesus has sent us…

Because God first loved us so we are to love others…

Because we glorify and enjoy God when we do…

Because the Spirit of God compels us to do so…

Because, through Christ, you and I are blessed, blessed, blessed, indeed!

And because, like Abraham of old, we have been blessed to be a blessing!

And indeed let us be a blessing now and forevermore!