Benedictions

When I was growing up, it was customary for pastors to close the Sunday morning service with a benediction. According to the Cambridge dictionary, a benediction is a formal blessing or a short prayer asking for God’s help, guidance, and protection. There are many beautiful ones in the Scripture.

A few days ago, a friend was visiting our home. When he was about to leave, he said a benediction. What a wonderful way to close a meaningful visit! Maybe we should do that more often. It’s better than “Good bye” or “See you later.” It got me thinking about some benedictions to share with you. Maybe you can pass them on.

My favorite Old Testament benediction is this. Numbers 6:24-26: “The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” Isn’t that a beautiful picture? The Lord, who is Light, shining on us to give us light and grace and peace. Stop for a moment and let that sink in.

My favorite New Testament benediction is from the closing verses of Jude. “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen” (Jude 24-25, NKJV). This definitely points us to our Lord Jesus, Who in all of His glory, stoops to bring us into God’s glorious presence. He not only gives us strength to walk this earthly journey (to keep us from stumbling), but presents us to the Father as “faultless.” I am always humbled by that statement. I, a sinner, unworthy of His grace, am seen by Him as faultless, having been made clean by the blood of Christ. Don’t ask me to explain that. I can’t. I can only say, “Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so.” 

Thank God for the faith that makes these truths real to us. Even that faith comes from Him. If you feel lacking in that commodity (as we all do at times), ask Him to strengthen your faith and make His power and mercy real to you. And if these words from the Bible have blessed your heart, how about passing them on to someone you talk to today?