Psalm 67:1-2 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us,
that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.

The Psalmist got it right as to why to ask for blessings. We need to remember that God’s blessings are never exclusively for the direct recipient, but are to flow through them to others to lead them to God. The sad thing is, some people react to those blessings with simple jealousy, rather than seeking to know how they can be equally blessed. That is certainly true with Jews and the nation of Israel today. Jews have earned a totally disproportionate percentage of the Nobel prizes over the years, and a high percentage are in the upper ranks in terms of education and economics. Likewise, the nation of Israel has faced incredibly hard circumstances since its reestablishment in 1948 (the year of my birth), yet it has flourished remarkably, exporting both technology and agricultural goods around the world. (We get Sweetie grapefruit from Israel here in Japan.) I am reminded of a chart I once saw of two men in America from colonial days, one of whom loved and feared God and one who didn’t. Over several generations, the man who feared God had pastors, judges, university presidents and the like in abundance among his descendants, and the man who didn’t fear God had multiple criminals and people in abject poverty. You would think people would pay attention! The blessings of God accrue to those who follow His ways, not just for their blessing but to show others that’s how to live a good life.

I’ve certainly been blessed, and I recognize that I am reaping the benefits of generations who loved God. The sad thing to me is the people who look at me and can’t believe that God loves them equally, if they would only commit to Jesus as Lord. That’s why I need God’s wisdom and anointing to communicate His truths, because if I don’t tell them, how will people know? God gives everyone a desire for better things. I might wish that people would follow God simply because He is worthy, but that’s hardly ever how it happens. I need to help people understand that the best things come only from being in a right relationship with their Creator, through Jesus Christ His Son. That is in many ways the essence of evangelism, and I must not forget it. Following Christ doesn’t erase all our problems, and I should never give the impression it does. However, it at least makes those problems much more bearable, and it carries uncountable blessings as well. (John 16:33)

Father, thank You for the message You spoke through me yesterday, and for the rather dramatic title: The Secret to Happiness. I think You want me to preach more such messages, addressing the felt needs of those around me. Help me be sensitive, to You first and also to them, so that what I speak may indeed be Good News, drawing them from darkness to light, from death to life, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!