Receiving to Give:
Psalm 67:1-2
“May God be gracious to us and bless us, look on us with favor so that Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.
Gods work in each one of our lives is much bigger than our own happiness or wellbeing. God loves us and He long to give us good things, but He does not bless us merely for our own sake. His blessings are always to bring glory to His name and to demonstrate that glory to those who do not know Him. They are meant to bring blessing to “all nations” (v2) to “all the ends of the earth” (v7). Like one seed that, when planted, multiples to produce hundreds of that same seed.
The writer of Psalm 67, asks for Gods favor so that the nations will know the goodness of God and His salvation. Just like God Himself, God’s gifts and the one who receives them are always looking beyond themselves, to others. God did not seek after Israel because they were special or that they could be proud of themselves, but so that He might bless all nations through them. In the same way, the church is blessed for the sake of those outside the church. Our praises are meant to be heard out in the streets. God gives us good gifts so that we can freely turn and give them away. And when we thank God for what He has given us, when we trust that God will continue to be faithful to us, we demonstrate His character to everyone who hears.
God bless you all.