The Weekly Epistle 5/6/21

Hi Church,
What were the first words from God to humanity?  It was a blessing.  “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.  Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground’” (Genesis 1:28).  
 
God’s first words to His image-bearers were words of blessing.  The Bible is filled with them.  God commanded the priests to give a blessing to his people and say, “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).  
 
Jesus’ final days before his ascension back to heaven Luke tells us that, “While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven” (Luke 24:51).  
 
And what were God’s final words to humanity?  Revelation 22:21, “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.”  
 
Words of blessing.  It is what we commonly refer to as “benedictions” which comes from the Latin, “good” and “speak.”  Benedictions are good words spoken that express anticipation of what only God can give.  Most of the letters written to churches in the New Testament include at least one benediction.  
 
On most Sundays, we end our time together with good words spoken, a benediction.  Why not just say, “You’re dismissed”?  For some, benedictions sound like archaic conclusions to worship services.  As your pastor, I want to send you off each week with good words of great anticipation of what our Great God can do and give.  I want to leave you with a God-size expectation for your near and distant future.  It is not just a sacred way of saying, “You’re dismissed.”
 
Perhaps this practice of incorporating benedictions into everyday life is for you.  Can we speak them over our children?  Can we write them in birthday, anniversary, graduation, or sympathy cards?  Should we include them in our emails or texts?  You can work this out for yourself.  
 
In the announcement section of this epistle, I have included a few of the benedictions in Scripture.  In your Bible reading, look for benedictions and familiarize yourself with them.  
 
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.  The Lord be with all of you.”
 
Pastor Brian