“In [Ephesians 1] verse 3, Paul begins what is the longest sentence in the New Testament in the original Greek, a string of amazing thoughts that take us on a journey through spiritual blessings. . . . If you are part of God’s family, you already have all of these blessings. You may not have learned how to experience them yet. You may not have even accepted the fact that you have them. But they are yours.”- Chip Ingram
“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 (NIV)
In Chapter 2 (“You Are Wanted”) of Discover Your True Self, Chip Ingram talks about living life on two levels. Hence, healthy and unhealthy drives often intertwine. As a result, these distinct but converging streams run alongside each other in one’s heart.
Most significantly, Pastor Ingram states, Paul’s letter to the Ephesians provides one of the best pictures of our identity in Christ. Because in his letter Paul addresses a number of foundational issues that relate to our relationship with God and identity in Christ. Thus, Chip explains:
“Taken as a whole, Ephesians presents a powerful picture of what it means to be redeemed, enlightened, empowered, and equipped to live as new creations in a universe in which God has already defeated all the powers of darkness. It is a declaration of the preeminence of Jesus and outlines the specific blessings we receive when we place our faith in Him.”
Consequently, Chip notes, the first spiritual blessing Paul mentions is that God chose us. Above all, Pastor Ingram asserts, every spiritual blessing begins with this truth. That God wants you and handpicked you for a relationship with Him.
Certainly, within every soul a desire for inclusion exists. Therefore, we position ourselves for belonging. Cool fashions, a bulging bank account, a job with prestige. Yet, the apostle Paul teaches that we no longer need those things. At least not in any eternally meaningful sense. We need do nothing to make ourselves wanted by God.
Today’s question: What most helps you on your spiritual blessing journey? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “The biblical concept of adoption”
