Blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the
heavenly places…” (Ephesians 1:3)
Every? Like, right now I
currently own EVERY spiritual blessing? There isn’t more spiritual blessing
that I get at a later date? When I’m empty there isn’t a spout I can get under
for more “spiritual blessing?” What if I don’t feel anything? What if I feel anything but spiritually blessed? What
if I am drawing a blank when it comes to “all that He’s done for me.”
I know this feeling well, and
if you are like me, you may be asking this question: “If this is true, that
every spiritual blessing is mine, then what in the world does that mean? Can
someone help me see through the abyss that lies between the way that I feel and
this so called, ‘blessing’ that I have in Christ.”
Friends, take heart and get
ready to be encouraged, because the letter to the church in Ephesus was written
to folks like you and me who also struggled to see it. And in epic, Paulian, run-on fashion, the verses
that follow the third shine a light into the abyss. They remind us that right
now we are:
Chosen before the foundation
of the world
Blameless before Him
Loved to the uttermost
Predestined for rescue
Adopted in as family
Forgiven from every sin
Redeemed by the blood of
Christ
Enlightened to the mystery of
His will
United in Him
Heirs of God
Saved by grace
Sealed by the promised Holy
Spirit
Recipients of an eternal
inheritance
(Ephesians 1:4-14)
If any list is going to help
us “lift our hands for all that He’s done,” that one will do the trick, right? Well,
maybe not. If you have put your faith in the perfect work of Christ to save
you, that list is TRUE of you today, but it still may not chase away the cloud that
is resting over your head and heart. Why?
We can’t see.
Oh, we can read, and we sure
can put on the right Christian hat and act like we are “blessed,” but if we are
honest, inside we feel quite the opposite.
It’s almost like God knows us or something, because look where he goes
in the following verses as Paul prays for the church:
“I do not cease
to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father
of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge
of him, having the
eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he
has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe…” (Ephesians 1:16-19)
He helps us see when we ask! He
gives us the “Spirit of wisdom and revelation” to see and know Him. When we ask,
He untangles the knots of doubt and gives us faith to believe the things that
are true! It could be a good thing today for us to change our prayers for more of
Him to prayers to see and comprehend all that we already have in Him.
Brothers! Sisters! – You are free to run
today! “His divine power has granted to us
all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who
called us to his own glory and excellence!”
(2 Peter 1:3) You may not feel like it, but you don’t need to! You will never be
more loved by the Father than you are today. You will never be more blessed
than you are today. RUN! And be encouraged that running should feel like –
well, running. A marathon, which is the kind of running we are called to in
this life, is long, exhausting, and extremely difficult. It is filled with
moments of inspiration, but mostly it is a beating of one’s body for the sake
of the prize. He is your prize. He will never leave you or forsake you on your
“run” today! And as you “Run” to His goodness, pay attention because it is
right beside you! (Psalm 23:6) Dance in the Presence of God Who has chosen to take
up residence IN YOU! And SING for all that He has done for you!
“Because your love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
I will bless you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.”
- Psalm 63:3-5