BESTOWING A BLESSING

BESTOWING A BLESSING
A rare but wonderful truth (reality or practice) has been ignored (sometimes misrepresented) to the point that it is basically lost. I am speaking of the practice of parents and spiritual leaders, Blessing Children.

Biblical
When a Christian parent or worker speaks a blessing over another person, either a natural child (Jacob and his sons), or little children (Jesus and the "little ones"), or a child in the faith (Paul over Timothy), it may be God given insights concerning the character, the abilities and the ministry of the one receiving the blessing. We first see the fathers speaking blessings over their sons in the Patriarchs, but we also see Jesus taking the little children to Himself and speaking a blessing over them. Paul refers to the time he, along with the other elders of the church, laid hands on Timothy, and set him apart for the ministry.

Not Incantation
I am not saying that a spoken blessing is like an incantation that gives magical protection to the recipient. I certainly am not a proponent of the false doctrine of, "Name It Claim It," which is part of the erroneously named, "Word of Faith" movement. However, I believe that speaking (praying and exhorting) a blessing over someone is an intercessory action, as well as an expression of spiritual insight and recognition given through spiritual leaders.

Reasons For Failure
Maybe we see so few Christian fathers and workers doing this today because fathers and workers do not realize that it is a powerful ministry for them to use, or they do not see themselves as qualified for such an important function, or they do not believe it is a present day reality.

Easy As Holding A Baby
Since my Bible college days I have thought it worth while, when I have held little children in my arms, to pray a blessing on them. Sometimes I have spoken it aloud, so that they would hear what was being said, hoping that they would remember it in the years ahead. Even if they did not remember what I said, I knew God would remember it. Speaking a blessing, "a prophecy," a prayer over a child or young person should be an act of faith by the one speaking, and it can be a faith builder for the recipient.

Planting Seed
Sadly, the positive things spoken do not always come to fruition. It is still left up to the recipient to decide what he will do with the opportunities afforded him. The path of life is strewn with those who have had great hope, prayer, and counsel invested in them by a loving parent or worker. But maybe there have been some who have succeeded because someone took the time to call on Divine intervention, in behalf of a young life.