George Washington sent a circular letter to the governors of the 13 states on the disbanding of the Army after the Revolutionary War. The final paragraph of the letter is in the form of a benediction. Washington hoped people would him as someone who, “even in the shade of Retirement, will not fail to implore the divine benediction upon (his country).” He wrote:

I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have you, and the State over which you preside, in his holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow Citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the Field, and finally, that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do Justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that Charity, humility and pacific temper of mind, which were the Characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy Nation.

A benediction is an expression of goodwill towards someone else. It is akin to invoking God’s blessing on others. Each of us can speak goodness unto others. It is a shame that so many people think of a benediction as little more than the closing statement at the conclusion of a worship service. In a world where it seems easier to speak cures or ill will on people let us remember that Christians of all people should be speakers of benediction. The Apostle Paul was good at that. 2 Corinthians 13:14 serves as an example: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen”

Let our “amen” on departing from others always be in the form of a benediction. We never know when our “amen” might be our last.