"Be the blessing, Danny."

OK, I reap what I sow. Simple enough, at least in theory.

Paul condensed another of Jesus' sayings. "Bless those who persecute you; Bless, and curse not." (Rom. 12)

We can go way back to Abraham and find the same instruction, though we have to coax it out a bit.

"Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." (Gen. 12)

Notice how many times the word "bless" appears! Abram (later, Abraham) was to "be" a blessing. (I can't avoid thinking of Chevy Chase saying "Be the ball, Danny... be the ball." in Caddyshack!) God's saying, "Be the blessing, Abe... be the blessing."

Also notice that God never tells Abraham to curse anybody! Rather, God affirms that He will handle the dissenters. Abraham was to simply "be a blessing" and leave the rest to God.

But what does the word even mean? The definition of the verb "to bless" means basically, 'to pronounce good upon, to ask God's favor for.' It doesn't matter whether its spoken aloud, in the whisper of a prayer, or simply an internal assertion. "To curse" would then be the opposite.

Can you bless everyone you encounter without hesitancy? (I mean silently, with your energy and actions.) Do you withhold it at times? Have you ever cursed anyone?

Quickly scan through your mental "address book" of family, friends, acquaintances, co-workers, etc... whether past or present. Is there anyone that you have consciously (or unconsciously, for that matter) withheld your blessing from? Why? Have they wronged you?

Can you give yourself a "spiritual chiropractic adjustment" and transform those curses or withholdings into blessings? What does it cost to have an attitude of blessing, even toward those who bring you strife, trusting that God will take care of the rest?

It's never too late to "be the blessing."