relatonships (Psalm 134:1-3) Blessing and Being Blessed

(Psalm 134:1-3) 

1   Behold, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,
     Who serve by night in the house of the Lord!

2   Lift up your hands to the sanctuary 
     And bless the Lord.
3   May the Lord bless you from Zion,
     He who made heaven and earth.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

The Lord blesses and works all things out for good to those who love Him.  When we bless Him, He definitely blesses us.  Do not think that this is a conditional love.  God loves everyone unconditionally, sacrificially!  Period.  And because He is love, He will not force anyone to love Him back.  That is a choice everyone has to make:  to become a child of God, or not.  

When we become a Christian (when we are "born again", accepting His free gift of forgiveness for sins and His salvation which includes His indwelling Holy Spirit), God adopts us, and He will never let us go.  We cannot lose our salvation.  We will spend all eternity with the Lord in heaven which is His home, therefore our home, because we are fellow heirs.  This makes complete sense, yes?  Then, why and how can anyone who rejects and curses the Lord, who hates Him, His word as well as His children - feel so entitled to think that they deserve to retire and live in God's home and enjoy all the blessings and inheritance meant for His children?

Recently, I met a couple who were adopting three siblings from South America.  These orphans had a chance to come live in their home for a month, as a kind of trial, although they had no idea this would be their future home, they only knew that this was somehow part of the process.  They didn't speak English, and the couple didn't speak Spanish, but the future-parents patiently demonstrated to them how things worked, and these kids keenly and respectfully observed everything.  Their desire was to have parents who protected and cared for them, so that they could just be part of a home with a brighter future.  So without even being asked, they would wake up, make their beds, prepare breakfast for everyone, and clean up!  This is human nature, to realize that in order to get something good, we should probably do good.

Well, no one can buy, earn or work their way into heaven, or buy, earn or work to become a child of God.  It is a free gift.  We only have to humble our hearts in order to receive it.  But then, shouldn't we be so very appreciative and thankful for such a great honor and blessing?  Or will we become spoiled, entitled brats who insist that we will only bless if and when God blesses us in the way that we want?  

It only makes sense that our humble hearts will trust that the Lord knows the future and what is best for us, and desire to keenly and respectfully observe all of His instructions in order to serve, live according to His example, and please Him.  We will do good, because we want to, not because we have to.  Humble and appreciative hearts will desire to bless, honor and worship the Lord, and the Lord alone who is worthy!