THINK TOGETHER.
Do you like waking up early? Why or why not?
READ TOGETHER
Proverbs 27:14. Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing.
This proverb is meant to make us laugh out loud. It paints a funny picture of a neighbor who wakes up early in the morning and starts yelling "blessings" to their neighbor. Of course blessings are nice. Blessings were prayers that people would pray for others. A famous blessing in the Old Testament went like this: "The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and give you peace." That's nice, isn't it?
But waking people up too early is not nice. It's no longer a blessing when it wakes you up from your sleep. Now it's a curse. Like when a child tells mom and dad that they love them at 5am on a Saturday morning. If you love me go back to bed.
The point is that we can say the right things (like a nice prayer or blessing) but we can say them at the wrong time when they aren't actually helpful. Or we can say them in the wrong way, like too loud or over the top. What might this look like for you? Talking too much? Saying nice things to someone just to get them to like you? Being too loud just so that you can be heard and get your way? Calling or messaging too early or too late?
If you want to bless someone and say something nice to them, great! You should. Just make sure you do it at the right time and in the right way. And always check your reason. Are you saying nice things just to be noticed or liked? Well, with Jesus you are already noticed and liked all the time. Remember that, and you can bless others because you like them, not to get them to like you.
Because of Jesus you are always noticed and always liked by God.
With Jesus you can be nice without needing to be noticed.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
WHO can your family bless this week? OK now ask WHEN and HOW should we bless them? What is the best way to make them appreciate the blessing? Now make a plan and carry it out together. WHO. WHEN. HOW.
PRAY TOGETHER
Jesus, help me know when and how to bless others. And help me to do it from a pure heart that loves others. Amen.
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