The Importance of Asking Why and Discovering Who

Have you ever been haunted by some version of that incredibly difficult question—why? In the incredibly powerful, biblical concept of the Blessing comes the answer for so many people about their deepest need from their most important earthly relationships, an answer to their why?

The book of Deuteronomy records a time the Lord called the entire nation of Israel together and set before them something that was nothing less than a life-and-death choice—a choice that is set before us as well.

“I call heaven and earth to witness that I have set before you a choice. Life or death. The blessing or the curse. So choose life. You and your descendants” (Deuteronomy 30:19, author’s paraphrase).

That’s where I began to see the double-sided choice that the Lord himself had set before his people, just before they headed into the promised land. There was a choice: Life over death. Blessing over curse. One choice with two parts. The Blessing originated in God giving us life and his blessing. But we also have a choice either to bless others or to withhold the Blessing from them! This choice begins with our children and our spouses, then extends to those around us. And in that choice to bless, amazingly, I found not only that huge why? answer but also how this concept of the Blessing helps answer the equally important question of who?

Right at the heart of receiving the Blessing is a gift that helps us understand our identity: Who are we and who can we become? What are our strengths? Do I really have great value in God’s eyes and in the eyes of crucial loved ones?

The apostle Peter, one of Jesus’ closest friends and disciples, wrote of Christ’s suffering and how his love freed us, how it changes us and points our life in a new direction. At one point, he wrote, “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9 NIV).

In short, our calling is to be people of blessing.

Listen to the way Eugene Peterson in his eminently readable paraphrase, The Message, translates these same verses: “No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless— that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.”

Think about that for a moment.

That’s your job: to bless.

You may have sworn it was to be a heavy-equipment operator or homemaker or policewoman or nurse practitioner or computer coder or teacher. No, your primary job is to bless. Not in your own strength. It begins and flows from God’s blessing and loving you. As you unpack this biblical life-giving concept, the answers to why you’re here and why you’ve needed the Blessing so much in your life can also help you answer the question, Who am I? In giving the Blessing, you can find your foundational identity and purpose. You can find your calling.

That’s your job: to bless. For in blessing others, you’ll see the Blessing change someone else’s life. Even as it comes back from God himself and pours out all over you.

Respond

• How has God blessed you?
• How have you blessed others?

Pray

Father, thank You for blessing me and allowing me to bless others.