Sunday, May 19, 2024
God loves to bless us! In fact, in Genesis 1 we see God do exactly this after making us in his image.
Genesis 1:27-28
27 So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
28 Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”
Unfortunately, in the garden, Adam and Eve opted to not trust God, and through this choice, sin entered the world (Genesis 3). God loves to bless, but when we don't trust, we choose the curse of sin instead. Today we continue to struggle with curses or sin when we don’t trust God. And these sins can wreak havoc on our relationships if left unchecked. If we are going to grow close in our relationships, we need to find freedom from these curses – first by acknowledging them, and then by taking steps with God’s help to see our way out.
Set aside any distractions, close your eyes, take a few slow, deep breaths, and invite God to open your eyes to what sins you struggle with and how they are impacting your relationships. Then surrender those to God. Ask the Lord to help you see where your actions affect relationships negatively, and how you can instead be a blessing to all those you interact with.
Finally, consider recording your responses in a journal, whether digital or hard copy. It's a great way to be able to look back on the adventure God has you on.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for the precious gift of relationship with friends and family. However, sometimes my sin and that of others gets in the way. Because of the incredible grace you have shown me, Lord, help me become aware of how my sins negatively impact my relationships. Help me find freedom from them. Help me graciously respond to those who sin against me, and help me speak life and be a blessing in all of my interactions. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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Discussion Questions:
Icebreaker: What is a blessing to you?
How do people have the potential to bless or curse in every interaction?
Read Psalm 51:2-3 and Romans 6:14. What do you learn about sin from these verses? What do you learn about God?
Read Galatians 3:13. What do you learn about Christ’s sacrifice in this verse? As you live from his grace, how can you be a blessing to others?
Which of the curses shared in the message do you struggle with the most? What is one thing you can do to live out of the blessings God offers?
Series Theme Verse:
Proverbs 17:17 ESV
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Today’s post was written by Kelly Pagel, the Director of the LivingItOut.