The small word...”may”....

The small word, “may”....

In the NIV translation, the word “may” appears over a thousand times...

I was reading in 1 Thessalonians chapter 3 this am, verses 11-13 and found this...

“Now mayour God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. Maythe Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. Mayhe strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.”

Finding these”mays” in this passage made me wonder how many other places “may” was used as a blessing of sorts...and there are lots...from the beginning in Genesis through Revelations...

Many are just used in sentences, but many go with curses and many go with blessings...

May have long life...

May know you will have long life...

May know you have eternal life...

May rule over this fish...

May God extend Japheth’s territory...

May give you a blessing...

May God give you heaven’s dew...

May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers until you become a community of peoples. May he give you and your descendants the blessing given to Abraham, so that you may take possession of the land where you now reside as a foreigner, the land God gave to Abraham.”

Genesis 28:3-4

 May tell your children...

May live and not die...

May the Lord repay you...

May the Lord judge...

May you be blessed...

May the Lord value my life...

From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.

Psalm 3:8

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. 

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. 

May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. 

May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. 

May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. 

May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. 

May the Lord grant all your requests.

Psalm 19:14-20:5 

May be mature and complete...

May be won...

May have fellowship...

And it goes on and on...to ..

14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.

Revelation 22:14 

Many, many are if/then statements...”if —-happens, then —-may —-...

Anyway, it was an interesting exercise...

May you be blessed as I was was...

Thank YOU...for your word and it’s infinite messages to our hearts, souls and minds...