Ephesians 1:3
“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,”
Dwell:
God is to be blessed and praised for His abundant grace, which showers believers in Jesus Christ with countless spiritual blessings. This statement encapsulates the great number of gifts Christians receive through God's work in His Son, including election, adoption, redemption, forgiveness, the gift of the Holy Spirit etc.
When we contemplate this verse, our attention naturally gravitates towards the "spiritual blessings." We often wonder, what are they? However, the more crucial phrase here is “in Christ.” These blessings are specifically reserved for those who believe in Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension, and who are united with Him through faith.
A common mistake we often make is seeking the gifts Christ provides without seeking Christ Himself. We desire His blessings, but we neglect to pursue a relationship with Him. This is similar to wanting a birthday present more than the loving parent who gives it. It sounds absurd, yet this is exactly what we do with Jesus.
Thought:
“It’s sometimes led people to think that they can have these blessings apart from Jesus Christ Himself, or they can have Christ’s salvation without Christ’s lordship. But the New Testament makes clear that you can’t do that; you can only have Jesus Christ. And when you have Him, you have everything in Him. When that dawns on us, I think it’s a great protection against seeking blessings instead of seeking and trusting the Lord Jesus Himself, in whom these blessings are to be found, and in whom they are to be experienced.
That was one of the mistakes that led people into the muddle-headedness of thinking that you can trust Christ as Savior without having Him as Lord, as though you can have salvation but not sanctification, forgiveness but not holiness. No, you can only have Jesus Christ Himself, and He’s both Savior and Lord. And gloriously, when you have Him, then all these blessings are yours in Him as well…”
- Sinclair Ferguson
Prayer:
Father, I seek a relationship with You above all else. I am deeply grateful for every spiritual blessing found in Christ. Thank You for my election, adoption, redemption, forgiveness, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and every other blessing that is true only in Jesus Christ. Help me to always seek You first, above all the gifts You provide.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.