11 February | Teens
«The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:…The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:… The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. » Numbers 6:24-26
Did you know that, in the Bible, God gave the priests a very special blessing to say to the people of Israel? “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” This blessing was a promise that God would be with them, watching over and protecting them. When a priest blessed the people, it was as if God was saying, “I am here with you.”
Today, even if we don't have priests like in the time of Moses, we can still receive blessings from God. Often, our parents and family members tell us, “God bless you.” And when they say that, I believe God really hears them! When we go to church, we listen to pastors and leaders who have spent a lot of time studying about God and His Word. They help us to better understand the Bible and to live in a way that is pleasing to God. Participating in church services and activities is a wonderful way to be close to God and receive His blessings.
Take Action
The next time you go to church or attend a service, do a little challenge: try counting how many times the pastor or leader says the words “blessing” or “bless.” This will help you pay more attention to the message and think about the meaning of those words. After the service, share with your family the number you counted and discuss how these blessings can be a part of your life.