Believe These Words Tell Yourself These Words

Jude 1:24-25
(24) To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— (25) to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

This doxology (poetic statement or song of praise) is not the only prayer and blessing we can recite from the Bible. This doxology is not the only benediction (an uttered blessing at the end of a worship service) available in scripture.

A benediction and closing prayer are different completely. A benediction is recited. A closing prayer is the last prayer to end a worship service. It is possible after a closing prayer, we do a benediction. But it is awkward to do a closing prayer after the benediction. If you are asked to give a closing prayer don’t give a benediction, and the reverse is true.

The most common doxology and benediction that has been mistakenly thought to be the only one is titled, the Grace. A worship leader would ask the congregation to say the grace.

2 Corinthians 13:14
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

There is one blessing I love to pronounce. This blessing was given by God Himself to Moses, Aaron, and their sons. God told them to pronounce this blessing on whomever they wish to bless.

Numbers 6:22-26
The Priestly Blessing
(22) The LORD said to Moses, (23) “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
(24) “‘“The LORD bless you
and keep you;
(25) the LORD make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
(26) the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace. ”’
(27) “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

The next one of the doxologies and benedictions is by Apostle Paul. We read it and get blessed. It is always good to be encouraged by it.

Ephesians 3:20-21
(20). Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, (21) to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

The epistle to Ephesians and by Jude have one thing in common- they both emphasize that God is able. He is able. To Him who is able. We do well to remember that God is able.

When good things happen to us, we remember to thank God because His ability is what empowered us. When things go wrong, we remember that God is able to stop it yet He allowed it. He must be having good reasons for allowing what I don’t like. Tell yourself that He is able!

Daniel 3:17-18
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. (18) But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up. ”

Our God is able to save us from fire. But even though He is able, He can decide that we burn in the fire. We will gladly burn in that fire knowing it is God’s will that we burn. If He didn’t want us to burn, we would never burn. He is able!

We don’t worship God so that He saves us from situations. He is able but He does not always. Whether He saves us or not, we will remain faithful to Him without ever wondering why He chose to save or not save. Our greatest comfort is that He is able!

He is able to keep us from falling. If we fall He has allowed it. He is able to do more than we ask or imagine. If we lack or if our prayers aren’t answered, He has allowed it. The bottom line is that He is able. May these words comfort and encourage us in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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