Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Feeling Blessed Today?

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places Ephesians 1:3>

Do you feel blessed today? You should! The truth is that your ARE blessed whether you recognize that fact or not. The blessings are flowing all around you. God’s Word says so!

One of the nicest things about Ephesians 1:3 is that the verbs are past tense. God HAS blessed us. Not that He is planning on blessing us someday or that He may bless if we faithfully stick it out through the hard times. No, this is a done deal. It is finished. Settled, Complete. Nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. This blessing of God has already happened!

We sometimes experience a pleasing event and declare ourselves “blessed” because the event feels good and we are grateful. There is nothing wrong with that. Happy and at times unexpected things do indeed come from our Father. But, those are not the kind of blessings referred to in Ephesians. The past-tense, done-deal blessings that Paul focuses on are spiritual blessings found in heavenly places. That’s what makes them superior to and more to be desired than any feel-good, pleasing for the moment events we may encounter.

This world is passing away. If you are “blessed” with good health today, it will fade as you age. If you are “blessed” with a good job and new car, both will eventually vanish. Earthly events, things and circumstances are like that. They come, and they go. But things in the heavenly realm last: Character growth, knowing how to be content, recognizing the smile of God, eternal life and eternal rewards; these things don’t fade. They are here to be enjoyed now and only multiply as we pass through this life and into eternity.

Right now—today—God’s smile is toward those who are bought by the blood of Jesus (Romans 8:1) His favor is raining down (Ezekiel 34:26) God seeks our good, not our hurt (Jeremiah 29:1). He has made us accepted in the beloved (Ephesians 1:6). Nothing and no one can ever separate us from His Divine protection (Romans 8:31-35). We are citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:19-21 NKJV). We are blessed to such a degree that the God of Glory has even destined us to be kings and priest before Him forever (Revelation 1:6).

We have all these things because we have experience a royal birth (I Peter 1:23). And, just like earthly royalty, our birth status doesn’t change. No matter where we are, no matter what our circumstance, no matter if others recognize it or even if we ourselves deny it (II Timothy 2:13) once born royal, we can never be unborn.

Lift up your head today. You ARE blessed and there is nothing your day or your world can throw at you today that will make your status any different.

No comments:

Post a Comment