KNOWING GOD – “BLESSED TO BECOME A BLESSING TO OTHERS”

For the past three days we are meditating upon the character traits of God, which Henry Steele grasped, as seen from his journal entry. Henry Steele is the father of English Baptist hymnwriter Anne Steele. He records the following words in his diary, on 29 November in 1757, a good 268 years ago, which helps us gain an insight into his understanding of who God is.
– “This day Nanny sent a part of her compositions to London to be printed. I entreat a gracious God, who enabled and stirred her up to such a work, to direct her in it, and to bless it for the good and comfort of many. I pray God to make it useful, and to keep her humble.” – Henry Steele’s journal

Thus far we meditated on these three things.
1- “I ENTREAT A GRACIOUS GOD” 
2- “WHO ENABLED AND STIRRED HER UP TO SUCH A WORK” 
3- “TO DIRECT HER IN IT”
This morning, let us look at “TO BLESS IT FOR THE GOOD AND COMFORT OF MANY”

“TO BLESS IT FOR THE GOOD AND COMFORT OF MANY”
What deep insight, this man Henry Steele has about God, and all things related to Him. This understanding is so very essential for us to grasp who our God truly is. It is absolutely essential for a grounded spiritual life; for a balanced outlook at all things related to God and life; and for a matured and strong Christian walk. It is good for us to note with humility that, *despite all what we will ever know about God, still it would be a mere tiny fraction, of who God actually is.* We can never ever fully grasp who God is.

We learn three things from the above words of Henry Steele.
1- “TO BLESS IT” – IT IS GOD WHO BLESSES
The talents and the abilities we have are certainly, a blessing given to us by God Himself. If we note what Henry Steele is saying, we understand that, he is asking God to bless his daughter’s talents and abilities, which are in itself a blessing from God Himself, to be used in a certain way and direction. That is why he says, “TO BLESS IT” – meaning, to guide it or direct it, in a certain way, and for a particular purpose.

2- THE PURPOSE OF OUR BLESSINGS – “FOR THE GOOD…COMFORT OF MANY”
God blesses us so that we become His channels of blessing to others. Even though we are the recipients of God’s gracious blessings, we are expected to use them not on ourselves, but be useful instruments of blessing, in the hands of God, ready and eager to be used by Him, for His glory, and for His purposes. This is the purpose of God in blessing us. Understanding this dimension clearly, Henry Steele prays, “FOR THE GOOD AND COMFORT OF MANY”

3- THE HEART OF A TRUE CHRISTIAN
As a Christian, the desire of this father speaks of his proper understanding about all blessings from God, and how they should be used. 
– Firstly, the blessings that God gives us, must be guided and directed by God Himself, and not us…never ever – “TO BLESS IT.”
– Secondly, they must be used for the blessing of others – “FOR THE GOOD AND COMFORT OF MANY”

Such an approach to all the blessings we receive from God, not only speaks of our mind, and our understanding about the nature of blessings, but more so, it speaks about our heart, and our attitude, and about how the blessings from God should be used, in the first place. When one thinks on those lines, he is walking the line of our LORD, and he becomes an unselfish person, with a compassionate heart.

A Christian always should use all his time, talents, abilities and opportunities to glorify God, for the extension of His kingdom, and for the blessing of His people. We should not use, what God had given us, for our own good, for our own welfare, and for our own name and fame. When we do so, we would invariably be blessed ourselves. This is the kingdom principle, that God ordained. The joy, peace and satisfaction that one derives when we live, breath and work for the glory of God, is invaluable and inestimable. It is impossible for us to get them, in any other way, except when we unselfishly, and unreservedly serve God and His purposes.

We should be always desiring for God to be glorified in and through our lives, and we becoming an instrument of blessing for others, in God’s hands – nothing less, nothing else. Even so, the LORD help us. SOLI DEO GLORIA!!!