Day 131: 2 Kings 1-3; John 3:22-36; Day 33 Prayer Journey

The Spirit of God filled Elijah and Elisha, leading them and empowering them to live God's plan and purpose for their lives. That same Spirit lived in and worked through John the Baptist. As unique as these prophets all were in their calling and mission, they become marvelous examples of what God can do in and through us. At the end of John 3 we read these words: "For the one whom God sent [Jesus] speaks God’s words, since he gives the Spirit without measure" (John 3:34). The Spirit of God empowers us to live counter to the spirit of this age (see yesterday's devotional). Jesus says the 'blessed' person (in the context for today's Prayer Journal verses - Luke 6:38) is the one who out of their walk with God, lives a life of obedience and blessing. E. E. Ellis, in commenting on this passage, reminds us that living blessing, Christlike living, is only possible through the indwelling Spirit of God. Such a person lives grace, having received grace and understanding its weight. Such a person lives generously...giving, forgiving, loving, sharing...because God has been graciously generous beyond anything that has ever been deserved, or earned. This is the life of blessing.

Here is the amazing truth according to Jesus: all we have is by God's great and amazing grace, yet, in the end, God will give to us in greater measure (pressed down, shaken together, running over, and poured out) the reward of our obedient, generous, Spirit-empowered service. Oh, how blessed we are! Yes, blessed to be a blessing!