Blessing Archives - Faith Lutheran Church, Wesley Chapel

Kurt Steinbrueck March 6, 2021

Blog Blessing, Protection

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May The Lord Keep You

“The LORD will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” –

Have you ever had to walk through a dangerous area?

I used to be a courier in Atlanta, GA. I would drive around town delivering packages. Occasionally, my deliveries took me into the more crime-ridden areas of Atlanta. Thankfully, I never had any issues. I would have loved to have had an armed escort through those places, but then again, I think I did have an escort.

Personal Protection
Most people don’t like being in danger. We have neighborhood watch programs for our home and police departments to watch over our cities. Some people hire bodyguards and the President has an entire agency of the government dedicated to watching over him.

However, none of these earthly protections are perfect. They all fail from time to time. People sleep or aren’t alert enough or just miss some danger.

Our protection is from one much greater.

God does not sleep nor does He slumber. He is always vigilant and always watching over His people. His protection goes beyond the earthly dangers. He protects us from the eternal dangers, from sin, death, and the devil.

The dangers are still out there, but like a child holding their father’s hand as they walk through a dangerous place, we need not fear. Fear comes when we focus on the danger.

Don’t focus on the danger, focus on the one who watches over you.

Heavenly Father,

Take my hand. Protect me and comfort me. Lead me on my life’s path. If that path takes me through the valley of the shadow of death, keep me from fear. Keep my eyes on You, my deliverer.

Amen.

May the Lord keep you from all harm. May He watch over your life. May the Lord watch over your coming and your going both now and forevermore. Amen.

See you at church tomorrow!

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck February 4, 2021

Blog Benediction, Blessing, grace, love, Peace

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Peace, Love, And Grace To You

Peace, Love, Faith And Grace To You

“Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.” – Ephesians 6:23-24

Have you ever wished someone well as you left them?

I’ve noticed more and more that when someone on social media isn’t feeling well or has something bad happen to them, many people respond with something like,

“Hopeful thoughts”

“You’re in my thoughts.”

“Well wishes.”

As our society becomes more and more secular, people are finding new ways to say “I’m praying for you,” because…well…they aren’t. While I appreciate that they are expressing that they care and recognize they are being honest, it still saddens me.

A Wish vs A Blessing or Prayer
What is the difference between a wish and a prayer or a wish and a blessing? On the surface, they can sound very similar. I can wish someone well or wish something would get better and I can pray for someone to be well or pray for a situation to get better.

However, there is a difference…and it’s huge.

A wish or thought is only an expression of compassion. A blessing or prayer is an appeal to the God of the universe. I like expressions of compassion, but when I’m sick or in a bind, I want real help, the kind of help the One who created all things and holds them all together can give.

The Benediction
Ephesians 6:23-24 are the final verses of Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus. He concludes as we do our worship services, with a benediction. He blesses them with the peace, love, faith, and grace of God. He blesses them with everything they need to strengthen them to endure until the Day of our Lord.

This blessing is much more than a wish because God stands behind it.

Peace be to you, brother or sister, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with you and all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck February 27, 2020

Blog Aaronic Benediction, Aaronic Blessing, Benediction, Blessing, Peace

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The Lord Bless You and Keep You…

the lord bless you and keep you...

“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,

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.

“So shall they put My name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.’” – Numbers 6:22-27

You may recognize this as the common Benediction at the end of worship services. It is the Aaronic blessing given by God to Moses for Aaron the priest to say to Israel. You may have heard it a hundred or a thousand times. Sometimes, we hear things a lot, but never take the time to really understand them.

So, what does it mean?

“The Lord bless you and keep you;“

The Hebrew word we translate as bless is to kneel, show respect, or give a gift. It can literally mean to kneel in respect as you give a gift (think of the Magi in the Christmas story). God is giving us a gift. Then there’s, “keep.” This word is the same as the word for, “thorn.” It refers to how a shepherd out in the fields at night would arrange thorn bushes to surround the sheep and provide a barrier from predators. To keep is more than to possess. It means to guard and protect.

“the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;“

Have you heard the phrase, “The person was beaming.” It refers to a big smile. “Make His face to shine upon you,” is for God to smile at us and show His happiness with us. This is as opposed to showing His displeasure at our sin. God shows mercy on our sins and graciously (unearned) treats us well.

“the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.“

Lifting His countenance, again, refers to God’s face or God looking upon us with favor. Lastly, there is peace. This peace, Shalom, is not just an absence or conflict as we often use the term today. It has to do with your whole self. It is a state of wholeness and well-being without danger or strife. We have this kind of peace because of God’s favor.

So…

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.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Blessing

May The Lord Keep You

May The Lord Keep You

Peace, Love, And Grace To You

Peace, Love, Faith And Grace To You

The Lord Bless You and Keep You…

the lord bless you and keep you...

Faith Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel, FL serving Lutz, Zephyrhills, Land O’ Lakes, and New Tampa, FL