May 23

“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

Most of Paul’s letters begin by dealing with doctrinal truths. Somewhere in the middle there is a big “therefore”, where he starts to talk about the practical implications and outworking of these doctrinal truths within our families, the workplace, our communities, churches and into the world. The book of Ephesians is six chapters long, the first half being about the resources we have in Christ, and the second half about the application of those resources into every area of our lives. 

We see the life of Jesus Christ in the Gospels, and we know and follow His story. We see His actions, His reactions, His kindness, compassion, generosity and love. 2 Peter 1:3 says, “Everything you need for life and godliness is in your knowledge of Christ.” Paul tells us by virtue of the fact that we are Christians we have already been blessed with every spiritual blessing. Where is it? In Christ. When we become Christians what God gives us is Himself. The very life of Jesus Christ comes to live within us by the Holy Spirit. In fact, God has nothing to give us outside of Christ. 

A word that crops up a number of times in Paul’s description of spiritual blessing is ‘rich’. “In accordance with the riches of God’s grace” (Ephesians 1:7); “the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints” (1:18); “God who is rich in mercy (2:4); “the incomparable riches of his grace” (2:7); “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (3:8); “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you” (3:16). Paul’s prayers are never about what we can do, but about what only the Holy Spirit can do in our lives.

We could have all the money in the world, the greatest minds, the most sophisticated technology and the support of loving family and friends, but all this combined cannot promise to be to us all that we need in the time we need it. Paul’s prayers are always for the spiritual truths he has taught so that they may become experiential in people’s lives. They are about knowing, experiencing and drawing on the resources of Christ for every eventuality we will meet. Jesus said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God” (Luke 18:27). When we are in Christ and giving Him the freedom to live His life in us, we are indeed divinely blessed with all the resources of heaven. 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for your abundant resources. Please help me to realize their availability especially in times I find difficult. Amen. 

TO REFLECT UPON: Do I realize the unlimited riches of Christ are in me by His Spirit?