Living Benediction: And Keep You

Todd Hunter latest book Giving Church Another Chance gives us a brief look at the Aaronic blessing of Numbers 6 that should be the direction for our daily actions and motivations. Bishop Hunter's responses are rich but brief. Taking the opportunity to expound upon them should help us practice them to the fullness of what lies at the core of the Benediction. For the next several blog posts, we will look at one of the six clauses, Hunter's response and the depth and practice of that part of the blessing. We looked at the first clause last week.

"and Keep You."

Bishop Hunter's explanation: "May you know the goodness of God in action, may he guard you, watch over you and protect you."

Talking About It

Goodness and protection are two motifs we can all get behind. To wish this upon someone seems a bit like a no-brainer. In Christianity it is believed that God is a good God that "for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) The imperative clause being, of course, "for those who love God."

Practicing It

Like the first clause, this is easy to practice toward our friends but much more difficult (if not impossible!) to practice on our own toward our adversaries. This definitely requires some divine assistance, praying for protection and goodness to be showered on the persecutors, the exploiters and the cheats and the liars. But that is how we must repractice this in our lives. Live a life that reflects the goodness of God to all men and women, that we all might know peace.