Receiving and Living the Blessing

Weekday Posts
Written By Dean Collins

By Dean Collins

It is a familiar blessing that brought comfort and encouragement to both Christians and non-Christians during the pandemic. Hundreds of versions of the song “The Blessing” were played on various forms of social media and brought tears to many as they yearned for God’s intervention into the fear and uncertainty of the pandemic. 

This blessing was first given at the base of Mount Sinai before the Israelites began their journey through the wilderness and into the Promised Land. It is a prayer that is often used as a benediction in both Jewish and Christian worship and at other religious celebrations. It is a beautiful blessing to pray over individuals, church communities, and all of God’s creation.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

This blessing is filled with action. Consider all of the things God does in these two short verses:

The Lord blesses us.

The Lord keeps us.

The Lord makes his face shine upon us.

The Lord lifts his countenance upon us.

The Lord gives us peace.

And all of this is given because of his graciousness to us as his image bearers.

 This prayer can be a powerful gift to pray over your family, your friends, your colleagues, your church, and over any community where God calls you to be his light. It is a good blessing both for our going out to serve and for our coming together in worship.

This blessing was given over the Israelites even as God had witnessed their lack of faith and their stumbling over and over again. Yet, in his great love and grace, he did not pull back from his blessings on his children.

 We do not earn the blessing of God; we receive it. And the transformation that is ours is beyond measure when we receive his blessing and lean into obedience to his call to us to come and be a part of his kingdom.

Today, take time to listen to this blessing and offer yourself to the Lord, that he might use you as a blessing to someone even today.  

Your Time with God’s Word
Numbers 6:23-27 ESV

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Dean Collins

Pastor, campus minister, counselor, corporate employee, Fortune 500 consultant, college president—Dean brings a wide range of experiences and perspectives to his daily walk with God’s Word. 

In 1979 he founded Auburn Christian Fellowship, a nondenominational campus ministry that still thrives today. In 1989 he founded and became executive director for New Directions Counseling Center, a service that grew to include several locations and counselors. In 1996 he became vice president of human resources for the CheckFree Corporation (3,000 employees) till founding DC Consulting in 1999. He continues part-time service with that company, offering executive leadership coaching, organizational effectiveness advice, and help with optimizing business relationships.

His latest pursuit, president of Point University since 2006 (interim president 2006-2009), has seen the college grow in enrollment, curriculum, physical campus, and athletic offerings. He led the school’s 2012 name change and relocation from Atlanta Christian College, East Point, Georgia, to Point University in West Point, Georgia. Meanwhile, he serves as board member or active volunteer with several nonprofits addressing issues ranging from global immunization to local government and education. 

He lives in Lanett, Alabama, with his wife, Penny. He has four children (two married) and five grandchildren. He plays the guitar, likes to cook, and enjoys getting outdoors, often on a nearby golf course. 

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Choosing 100% Faith in God