BLESSING OR BLASTING?

“Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath TORN, and he will HEAL us; he hath SMITTEN and he will bind us up.” — Hosea 6:1

Sometimes God may need to “hurt” you before He can heal you. He may have to “smack” you in order to straighten you. It is called chastening— “Despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction” (Prov. 3:11).

We all like to be blessed when we attend church. The fellowship is a blessing. The music is a blessing. And the sermon leaves us feeling good about ourselves. However, the best church services are ones that leave us feeling good about our Savior who died on the cross to save us from hell.

While going to church to get a blessing is OK, sometimes we also need to get a “blasting.” The preacher is not only to exhort (encourage), he is also to rebuke (2 Tim. 4:2). Reproof is often necessary and it is good for you spiritually. It may not be pleasant at the time, but if it is received and responded to correctly, it will yield “the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Heb. 12:11).

Paul described the work of a preacher as being like a farmer (2 Tim. 2:6). The farmer must first break up the ground (plow) seed can be sown and yield it’s fruit. When the wheat is harvested it must be threshed. Threshing is the process of knocking off the chaff from the wheat so it can be used. Preaching often involves threshing (1 Cor. 9:10).

Building a road first requires clearing debris and often “blasting.” But once the road is finished, it can be a blessing and take you where you need to go. So also is the ministry. Before you can arrive at your destination (the blessing), there may need to be some “blasting” to clear the way.

Is there something standing between you and your blessing? Maybe you need to have a “demolition expert” (the preacher) apply the dynamite of God’s Word and do some blasting.