“Now receive the blessing.” My friend then raised his hands and spoke these words over our gathering. As a lifelong Baptist, this took me by surprise. Knowing my friend is also a lifelong Baptist made this an unexpected experience.

I was well familiar with words like Invocation and Benediction. But speaking blessings like priests? I had zero experience of that kind of thing in a Baptist setting. 

Having a couple of diplomas from a theological seminary of renown, I should have something of a philosophy about blessings of this sort. Until recently, I have not. 

Consider what God said to Abraham in Genesis 12:3:  

      I will bless those who bless you, 
         and whoever curses you I will curse; 
         and all peoples on earth 
         will be blessed through you.

And again in 22:17 and 18:

I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”

Ponder Psalm 67:1 and 2:

      May God be gracious to us and bless us 
         and make his face shine on us— 
      2 so that your ways may be known on earth, 
         your salvation among all nations.

Here are three important biblical texts declaring God’s blessing on “all peoples” and “all nations.” These are not the only ones to do so. 

The Priesthood of All Believers is an important idea for Christians. We are priests for ourselves, our families, and one another. Listen to these words from the Apostle Peter:

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