You Are Blessed (2)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: - Ephesians 1:3

At the end of our text is a colon. And when you see a colon, it means the next statement will explain what was previously stated. So let's see what the next verse says to help our understanding. It says:

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.

Wow! We had been chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blame before God. That should make you feel special and blessed! The question to ask then is, what did man do to be chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blame before God? The answer is, nothing! Yes! God just decided to make man the focus of His Love. 

God decided that man would be the beneficiary of His Love. Not by merit, but simply a show of love. The truth is this: God never created man to exist outside of Christ. It has always been God's plan that our stand before Him would be based on the sacrifice of Jesus to the world. Now, that's being blessed! Think on this for a moment—God, Who is our Father actually wanted you. He desired you. Hallelujah! Let's look at the amplified version of this verse.

Even as [in His Love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love.

This is just amazing. The immense love God has for us. The statement "even above reproach" goes a step further to emphasize being blameless in the sight of God. The word reproach means a blame or criticism for something someone has done. Since this text was addressed to man, it is important to know what man did. So what did man do? Man sinned. But God had already decided before the foundation of the world that man would not be blamed or criticized for what he would do. He had decided that man would be above the reproach of sin. And that is why we see in Romans 8:1 in the Amplified Version:

Therefore [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus,

That's so sweet! Once you are in Christ Jesus, you have been given a discharged and acquitted verdict from sin and condemnation. We are not guilty of the wrong of sin because Jesus took all of the guilt and condemnation as He gave His life for us on the cross. What a substitution! And now, we can walk on holy and blameless in the sight of God. All because of Jesus! 

This is something to be thankful for. This is true blessing—one that exceeds our time on earth. Because what Jesus did, secured our eternity. Thank You Jesus.

SAY THIS: Father, I thank You because I am blessed because I am in Christ Jesus. Thank You for choosing me before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blame because You love me. Amen

You are blessed. God loves you. Yes you!!!