Theme of the Week: Who You Are – Characteristics of our Identity in Christ
Bible Verse: 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
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:3-10
Have you ever noticed that the phrase, “I am blessed,” is used to describe a wide range of life situations? When was the last time you used it, or something similar (blessed isn’t necessarily the word we all use)? We’re you reflecting on your career trajectory? Some relationships that you have—spouse, children, friends?
Being blessed can be applied to a wide range of life circumstances. But it’s not often that we think of “blessed” as part of our fundamental self-understanding. Life is difficult, often too difficult to see outside of some of the situations that confront us. It can feel false, or even ignorant to see ourselves constantly and consistently as blessed when life is so frustratingly unpredictable, difficult and we suffer under the weight of sin, ours and those of others.
But blessed is exactly what Paul says we are, and not just blessed, but blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph. 1:3 emphasis added). In order to accept that this is not just what we are, but who we are, we have to have a slightly bigger picture of life. Paul says that we are blessed with very spiritual blessing.
If we are being honest, we have a tendency to think of blessings as things related to our physical life here on this earth. Our vision of who we are is quite often too narrow. We forget that life is bigger than the few years we spend here in bodies that are either growing or shrinking. But life not only includes our current spiritual side, but also our future physical and spiritual side.
The most obvious blessing is our salvation. We have been granted, through the work of Jesus, to have the relationship with God that we were always supposed to have. That isn’t the only blessing, but even if it were, that’s enough of a blessing to consider blessed as one of our primary characteristics. We also have the Holy Spirit, who helps us continue to grow into the new person that God is creating us to be, more like Jesus.
Prayer: God, thank you for blessing me with salvation—a restored relationship with you. Thank you that you have sent us the Spirit to continue the work that you are doing in us, creating us to be the people you intend us to be.
Reflect: How is God continuing to form and grow you? What work has the Spirit done? Where is the Spirit still working?
Copyright © 2022 Impactus | Promise Keepers Canada. All rights reserved.
About
