“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in the heavenly realms
with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”
(Ephesians 1:3)
Reflection:
Paul praises God for blessing us with every conceivable blessing. Not only is nothing missing – for he refers to ‘every spiritual blessing’ – but he sees us as having been blessed with a depth and abundance beyond anything we could have imagined, expected or hoped. In addition these blessing are given from, and secured in, ‘the heavenly realms’. They are not subject to the influences of the passing world as we know it, nor to the activities of man or evil spirit. As Peter would say elsewhere,
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade–kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4)
God’s love and blessings are secured for us in heaven in Jesus Christ and made available and guaranteed by the Holy Spirit whom He has given to us. They are available for us to believe, accept and embrace with thanksgiving. Paul will go on to unpack some of them – but essentially they relate to the past – when we were chosen – the present – when we were adopted – and the future – when we and all things will be united under Christ Himself. The truth is that God, by giving Himself to us in His Son and then in His Holy Spirit has withheld nothing from us. The full impact and realisation of that is still to come as part of our inheritance. Small wonder that although we have to live through this word we are told
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1-3)
And so
“To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy– to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25)
Response:
God’s love and blessings are so much greater and abundant that we conceive. Let their waters flow into your spirit, heart and mind in a never-ceasing stream – no matter what your present situation.
Prayer:
Father I believe and receive Your love and blessings. Please help me to continue even in the face of the world’s pain, with my eyes fixed firmly on You. Amen.
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The Soaring Eagle 