1.19.20 - Being a Blessing to Others (Kenny Camacho)

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 22:18, Philippians 2:1-7, Matthew 25:31-40

In Genesis 22:18, God tells the patriarch of the Jewish people, Abraham, that “through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” From the beginning, the mission of God’s people was meant to reach outwards, to include all people on Earth. But what does it mean to be “blessed,” and how is this connected to Abraham’s obedience? The key is to remember that God’s relationship with Israel was always meant to accomplish two things: first, it was meant to serve as an example to all other nations of what it means to walk with God, and second, Israel was meant to serve as an ambassador of God’s love for the sake of the restoration of all people’s with their creator. When we serve our neighbors, we are not only obeying God’s command to be kind, we are living examples of God’s overflowing and available love. The real “blessing” of God is the invitation Jesus extends to all people to be reconciled with their Maker, and it is our work, as a church, to both testify to that invitation and make sure that everyone around us knows that God is working to bring all people to himself.