December 14, 2012 Blessed to Bless

Blessed to Bless 2 Kings 8:1 Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Go away with your family and stay for a while wherever you can, because the Lord has decreed a famine in the land that will last seven years.” 2 The woman proceeded to do as the man of God said. She and her family went away and stayed in the land of the Philistines seven years. THE STORY of Elisha’s connection with this Shunammite woman begins in 2 Kings 4:9-10 She said to her husband, "I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. 10 Let's make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us." From this gift of hospitality, God blesses this couple with a son. God then demonstrates his great blessing on them as he uses Elisha to resurrect her son from a sudden death. Then God’s blessings come to the woman as Elisha advises her to leave Israel to avoid a famine. What’s more, when she returns, her land and goods are fully restored to her. One good deed, one gift of the heart, one blessing to a man of God and God blesses the woman over a period of years. Although earthly wealth and comfort, good health, or resurrection from death isn’t the experience of everyone who is faithful to God, you can know that this woman’s life is an example of protection, peace and provision God offers to his own. There are many stories of faithful people I know who receive that surprise check in the mail, that great job offer, that house at a great deal and healing from disease. Certainly it is God’s choice to bless you as he desires. Scripture is clear, however, that his desire is to bless you as you live a life that blesses him and his people. It’s True! Proverbs 10:7 The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.