”The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (2 Corinthians 13:14).
In the words of blessing with which Paul ends his letter to the church in Corinth, we hear again an echo of Numbers 6:24-26. But with the coming of Jesus, a big change took place in our relationship with God. Through Jesus’ death on the cross, sacrifices are no longer necessary to obtain God’s forgiveness of sins, or to thank Him for something. Faith in Jesus connects people to God in a completely new way. Our relationship with God is restored because of what Jesus accomplished. Faith in Jesus also connects us to His Holy Spirit, who helps us to grow in faith. Through the Holy Spirit, we get to know God the Father and Jesus better and better. The Holy Spirit also makes us aware of the sins that can find their way back into our lives. It was Paul’s prayer that his readers would be filled with the love of God and that the Holy Spirit would help and guide them in all things. The words are different from those in Numbers 6, but God’s desire has remained the same throughout the centuries. He still wants to bless every believer with His presence and the power of His love and grace.
How do you experience God’s blessing in your daily life? Are there any special needs today for which you need God’s help? Ask Him boldly.