"BE A BLESSING"
Genesis 12:1–9; Matthew 9:9–13, 18–26
Today’s Old Testament lesson begins with one of the most important calls in all of Scripture. God calls Abram and says: “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing” (Genesis 12:1-2).
Notice that God does not give Abram a detailed map. God does not tell Abram how long the journey will take, what difficulties will arise, or what sacrifices will be required. Abram is seventy-five years old. Sarah is barren. The future appears uncertain. Yet Abram obeys.
Abram leaves behind homeland, relatives, security, and familiar surroundings. Abram enters a new way of life—a life of faith. Abram becomes a traveler, a pilgrim, trusting God's promises more than personal understanding.
Why does God call Abram? God's purpose is much larger than one man or one family. God declares: “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” God blesses Abram so that Abram may become a blessing.
That has always been God's way. God may not bless people merely for their own comfort. God blesses people so that God's love, grace, and salvation may flow through them to others.
Through Abraham and Sarah come the people of Israel. Through Israel comes the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the offspring of Abraham. Through Jesus Christ, God's blessing reaches every nation, tribe, and people. The covenant that begins with Abraham finds its fulfillment in Christ.
Faith That Obeys: Abram teaches that faith is more than believing certain truths. Faith acts. Abram could have remained in Haran and simply talked about God's promises. Abram could have dreamed about a better future. Instead, Abram obeyed. Abram heard God's call and took the first step. True faith always leads to action.
The Apostle Paul teaches that Abraham is justified by faith, not by works. Yet that faith becomes visible because Abraham trusts God enough to obey. Many people have good intentions. Many people say, “Someday I will serve God,” or “Someday I will make a difference.” Abraham reminds us that faith moves our feet. God's call transforms Abraham and Sarah into a blessing for generations because they trust and obey.
Jesus Blesses the Unlikely: In today's Gospel lesson, we see the same pattern. Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector. Tax collectors are despised by society. Many consider them dishonest and unworthy. Yet Jesus approaches Matthew and says: “Follow me.” Matthew rises and follows. Just as Abraham leaves an old life behind, Matthew leaves the tax booth behind. Again, faith requires action.
Then Jesus sits at the table with tax collectors and sinners. Religious leaders criticize Jesus, but Jesus responds: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” Jesus comes not for the righteous but for sinners. Jesus blesses people whom the world rejects.
In the second part of the Gospel lesson, a synagogue leader comes to Jesus because a daughter has died. At the same time, a woman who has suffered from bleeding for twelve years reaches out and touches Jesus' cloak.
Both situations seem hopeless. The girl is dead. The woman has suffered for twelve long years. Yet Jesus brings healing, restoration, and life.
Why? Because Jesus is the ultimate blessing God promised through Abraham. In Christ, the dead receive life. The broken receive healing. The outcast receives welcome. The sinner receives forgiveness.
We Are Children of Abraham: The New Testament teaches that Christians are children of Abraham through faith. Believers share in Abraham's faith because believers trust the same God who keeps promises. That means God's call to Abraham is also God's call to us.
God says: “I will bless you ... and you will be a blessing.” Being a Christian is not merely receiving blessings. It is becoming a blessing. We are blessed so that we may bless. We are forgiven so that we may forgive. We are loved so that we may love. We are shown mercy so that we may show mercy.
Sometimes we hesitate because we think we have little to give. A wise saying reminds us that we are often called to give what we do not possess in abundance ourselves. How can we give hope when we sometimes feel discouraged? How can we give strength when we feel weak? The answer is that the blessing does not originate from us.
The blessing comes from God. Abraham is not blessed because Abraham is perfect. Matthew is not chosen because Matthew is worthy. The woman is not healed because she is strong. God's grace comes first. God supplies what we lack. As we walk by faith, God works through us to bless others.
Living Forward into God's Future: One of the great lessons from Abraham is that faith always looks forward. Abraham does not live in the past. Abraham lives toward God's future. Abraham trusts that God is leading somewhere, even when the destination cannot yet be seen.
The same is true for us. God is not finished with us. God continues to call us forward into God’s purposes. There is abundant future in the future God is creating. We may not know exactly where God is leading. We may not understand every step. Yet we know the One who calls us. And God's promise remains: “I will bless you, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Conclusion: Abraham hears God's call and obeys. Matthew hears Jesus' call and follows. The bleeding woman reaches out in faith and is healed. The ruler trusts Jesus and sees life restored. Each becomes part of God's blessing to the world.
Today God calls us as well: Not everyone is called to the same task. Faith is not one-size-fits-all. Yet every believer receives the same mission:
Be a blessing. Bless your family. Bless your church. Bless your community. Bless those who are hurting. Bless those who are difficult to love. Bless those whom society overlooks. For through Jesus Christ, God's blessing has come to us, and through you and me God desires to bless the world.
May it be so for you and for me! Amen.
