Blessed (8)

Maybe you have been a source of non-blessing to your family lately. You’ve been on the demolition crew, not the construction crew at home. The reason? You’ve been trying to use the people around you to make you feel good about you. And when they don’t come through, you’ve let them have it!

It’s time. It’s time for you to stop listening to the voices that say you aren’t blessed and start listening to the voice of truth. Listen to the voice of the Spirit – the voice of truth – to remind yourself that you are blessed.

The voice of truth is saying to you today, "I want you to know that you know that you are blessed. I have chosen you from the foundation of the world. I adopted you to be in my family with all the family privileges forever. I have redeemed you by the blood of my Son. You are freely and fully forgiven. And I have put my Spirit in you as a seal and a guarantee. Therefore, you will receive the inheritance and praise the glory of my grace forever and ever. And I tell you about all these blessings here in Ephesians chapter 1 because I want you to be a blessing. I don't promise you an easy life. In fact, through many tribulations you must enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). But you must never forget that you have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”

How do we access these blessings? We have to be “in Christ.” 10 times in Ephesians 1:3-14 we see a little phrase “in Christ,” “in Him,” or “in the beloved.” I’ve circled these phrases in my Bible. Are you “in Christ”?

To be “in Christ” means that you are in His realm, that you are enveloped by Him, that all He is and all He has done applies to you. You’re influenced by His death, by His resurrection, by His life. You live life with Him above and beneath you, with Him to the right and to the left of you, with Him in front and behind you. You are “in Him.”

When did that happen?

Some people might say, “I’ve always been in Christ.” That’s not the teaching of the Bible. We are naturally “out of Christ” or “apart from Christ.” When did you move from being out of Christ, apart from Christ? Are you “in Christ”?

Maybe today’s the day for you to move from “out of Christ” to “in Christ.” If you come to Him, all the blessedness I’ve been blogging about lately will be yours.

Remember: Water heaters will blow up. Cars will break down. Roofs will leak. Clients will leave your company. Your bank account will be depleted. And you will feel un-blessed. And you will be tempted to un-bless a family member. But that’s when you will have to remember to speak the truth to yourself: “Wait a minute! I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. I am chosen, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, sealed. And because that is true, I can bless others. I will connect with my family in a way that says, ‘If I could do it all over again, I’d choose you. If you were in a big long line, I’d adopt you. I can’t redeem your life, Christ did, but will gladly sacrifice and give my time, my talent, my treasure just to be in relationship with you. I will forgive you when you hurt me. I won’t leave you. You can be secure with me.”