Hi CrossView Family,

A few months ago a powerful song made its way around the internet. It’s called - The Blessing, maybe you’ve heard it. It was so popular that many people and different churches recorded various covers of the song. The lyrics for “The Blessing” are taken from Numbers 6:24-26 - and this passage is so appropriate for us all as we head into the week of Thanksgiving even in the midst of a very difficult year.

The scripture reads:

“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. - Numbers 6:24-26 (NRSV)"

What I love about this passage is that God instructed the pastors of the day to freely use this blessing with people. In other words, God wanted to assure his people that he would be personally involved in their lives - He was, and is, the source of all the goodness that they enjoyed, this is still true for us even, and especially, in the difficultly of 2020.

There’s another key to realize about this passage, that God is more than the “source” of blessing; God is also the “substance” of that blessing. One commentator I read wrote: “Experiencing God’s blessing is not merely getting good things from God. The essence of blessing is getting more of God. To be blessed is to be confident that God has not and will never ignore or abandon us.” This means that as we ask for God’s blessing this thanksgiving season, we are asking for more of God’s presence in the ordinary aspects of our daily lives.

There’s humility required in asking for God’s blessing because it means that in asking for his blessing we are confessing that the outcome of our lives will not be based on our efforts or accomplishments. Instead, anything and everything good that comes in our life will be a result of His presence in it. The good news is that God is present when times are good and when times are tough.

So with all that said, as you enter into this Thanksgiving week, you can be assured that God’s presence is with you because God is the source and substance of the good things in our life. For that I'm thankful:

May His Presence go before you

And behind you, and beside you

All around you and within you

He is with you

In the Morning, in the evening

In your coming

And your going

In your weeping and rejoicing

He is for you, He is with you

May His favor be upon you

For your family and your children

And their children

Amen.

Blessings,

Pastor Kyle