Passage Read: Acts 2-3
Meditation Verses: 3:25-26
Thought
Peter defines God's meaning in His promise to Abraham, the promise that all nations would be blessed through Abraham's descendant: Jesus was raised to live again and sent to people to bless them by turning them from their wicked ways! That's not what I normally think of as a desired blessing! Health, wealth, safety, comfort, good food, love, happiness, those are things I think of as blessings. Those are not the blessings God meant when He made this promise to Abraham, according to Peter. They are all promises we can be sure of in God's eternal kingdom, but not necessarily here and now. But they only come to those who are first blessed to be turned from his evil ways. The greatest and most important blessing we need is to stop doing wrong and start doing right. All other blessings, all other promises flow from this one. But who wants to be told their ways are wicked? Yet for anyone who wants to enjoy God's favor and blessing, this is what they must understand, accept and receive.
Application
Who doesn't want a blessing? There are so many blessings we seek and even find in this life. Sadly, most of those keep us from recognizing that the blessings we enjoy are only temporary and will be followed by an eternity of torment. So what good are any blessings in this life if they will be long forgotten in our eternity of punishment? And all because our ways are wicked, chief among them being our rejection of God as rightful Lord of our lives and all Creation. We don't honor Him by living as He directs and instructs. So He cannot bless and reward our rebellion. So we enjoy some good things for a while, in hope that we'll recognize God as the author of all good things in time to forsake our evil ways and turn to Him in submission and a willing, teachable heart. But too many miss this all-important blessing of turning from their wicked ways to learn and do the righteousness of God. It is the most precious blessing, and I need to recognize that and speak of it in these terms. God has blessed me by sending Jesus to me to turn me from my wicked ways, and Jesus must be brought by me to still others, that they might receive the same blessing, if they are willing.