November 18, 2020
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)
Do you realize what God has done for you in Christ? Notice the three uses of "bless" in the verse above. Paul blesses God because he has blessed us with every spiritual blessing.
The next fourteen verses are one long sentence where he lists those incredible blessings that are true (whether you realize it or not) if you are a child of God.
1. He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we would be holy and blameless before Him. (Vs. 4).
2. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself (vs. 5)
3. He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved, His grace. (vs. 5-6)
4. In Him we have redemption through His blood (vs. 7
5. In Him we have the forgiveness of our trespasses (vs. 7)
6. He lavished on us the riches of His grace. (vs. 7)
7. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will (vs. 9)
8. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will (vs. 11) Of that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. (vs. 12)
9. We believed, by His grace (vs. 13)
10. We were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession (vs. 13-14)
Pause and think on these blessings this morning. Realize all is well, both now and eternally and then go out to meet the day!
Father, thank You for the incredible riches You have bestowed on me and on all those who have believed. We have every spiritual blessing. All we need. All we could ever want. Let me not forget this and live in light of these truths today. And give me boldness to share this good news with those around me who need to hear the gospel today!
February 20, 2025
If you have questions about how real, how present, how personal and intimate the Lord is, then just read six words of travelogue in Luke’s journal as he traveled with Paul.
February 18, 2025
I have known many people who have had great joy and power in the midst of great suffering. It is humbling that the slightest inconveniences deter many of us from following God. We have not gotten to the bottom—settled the issue. Most often, we live for our comfort, reputation, or gain. When any of those goals are touched, we are troubled and discontent.
February 17, 2025
The repentant who finds God gains everything. “He who has God and everything else,” said C.S. Lewis, “has no more than he who has God alone.”
