“God bless you” is a common response to people who sneeze.
The reason behind this custom is that people used to die during the bubonic
plague, and continual sneezing was a symptom of this illness. Now the words are
used carelessly and often shortened to “Bless you”, leaving God out of the
equation all together. However, God’s blessing is very powerful and coveted by
people who know its value.
Jacob knew the value of God’s blessing. In fact, he
bargained with his brother Esau to give to him, the younger brother, the
blessing, which rightfully belonged to the older brother. If Esau valued his
blessing, he would not have traded it for a bowl of hearty soup; but the carnal
Esau was famished after a day of hunting, and his stomach ruled his head. He
never regretted this decision either. In fact, God knew this would happen
before it ever occurred (Genesis 25:19-34).
In today’s society, we continually compromise the values,
which lead to God’s blessings. Adultery in marriage, sexual indulgence with the
same gender, rebellion against parents and authority, witchcraft, God-haters,
rejecting God’s truth to trust in Satan’s lies, and worshipping the created
rather than the Creator are just a few of our transgressions. We also teach
others to do these very same things (Romans 1). We fail
to acknowledge God. We are too busy futilely planning our own life (Proverbs
3:5-6).
God promises blessings to His Saints, including those of
peace, direction and abundance (Philippians 4:7; James 1:17; 2 Corinthians 9:8-10). We are
His people, and He is our God (Ezekiel 36:28-38). As His Saints, we never
worry about amassing the vanities of life, or even the essential things we need
(Proverbs
30:8). God is always faithful. In our finite, human imagination we cannot
even conceive of the wondrous bounty that God has planned for His people both
now and in eternity (1 Corinthians 2:9).
Prayer:
Father God, the true essence of prayer is a direct line of
communication with You. You are the source of all life and we truly value Your
blessings in our life. The sinful lifestyle we give up in order to live in Your
presence is nothing compared to the riches You have for us both now and in
eternity (Acts 17:11; Romans 8:18-19). We stand firmly in the
freedom of Your presence (Galatians 5:1). As we wait on You, we receive
our strength for each new day (Isaiah 40:31).
Thought for the Day:
With God’s blessings in our life, we never have to give
another thought to what we should eat or wear, because of what He has in store for
us. - Luke 12:22-31
