“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,” Ephesians 1:3 ESV
Reflection: why do you ask God to bless you and those you care about?
“May God bless you!” is a pretty common greeting among Christians. You might have received such words, and may even say that to others on a regular basis. But “Blessing” is another biblical word that is often used, but perhaps not so well understood. If we stop and think about it, what do we actually mean by that expression? What is it that we wish upon others? Perhaps the first question we should answer is, what is a “blessing”? The word is used in multiple ways within a biblical context, including consecration, benefit, and largesse. The latter is a word we don’t hear used much, but really means “generously”, or “liberal giving” to someone less privileged than the giver. And, we can think of all sorts of good things in this life as a physical blessing, such as good health, good marriage and family, good work, a nice house, good food, and so on. Physical blessings exist separately from us, meaning they remain, fade and even disappear somewhat independent of us.
Spiritual blessings, on the other hand, are eternal. They transcend this world, this physical life.
In our focus verse today, Paul states something profound, perhaps even controversial, based on what we have been taught through church. He says that God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ “has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,” Ephesians 1:3b ESV. Notice this is past tense; it is not something we have to even ask for or pray about. They have already been given. And, what Paul is proclaiming here is that it is not just a few, select blessings based on who we are or how well we do as a Christian. No, “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” have been given us. So, we can therefore imagine when we ask God to bless us,
He responds, “I already have”. Perhaps asking us, “Have you received them?”
We often don’t “feel” as if we have God’s blessings. That we have His favor. But that is not correct. That is the enemy whispering lies and deceptions to us. Bible commentator MacLaren wrote “So, then, we may not only draw the conclusion which the Apostle drew, ‘how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?’ but we can draw an even grander one, ‘Has He not with Him also freely given us all things?’ And we possess them all to-day if our hearts are resting on Jesus Christ. The limit of the gift is only in ourselves. All has been given, but the question remains how much has been taken. Oh, Christian men and women, there is nothing that we require more than to have what we have, to possess what is ours, to make our own what has been bestowed.” Oh boy, isn’t that often the case, that
“The limit of the gift is only in ourselves.”
MacLaren continues “It is well to ask, but we very often ask when what is wanted is not that we should get more, but that we should utilize what we have. And we make mistakes therein, as if God needed to be besought to give, when all the while it is we who need to be stirred up to grasp and keep the things that are freely given to us of God.” There are such profound and deep truths here, as we often live a Christian life as paupers, when we really are God’s chosen people, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9 ESV.
One last thought to ponder for a while today, is why. Why would God our Father bestow upon us all spiritual blessings in Christ? MacLaren wrote “The aim of His act of blessing is to evoke in our hearts the love that praises. We receive first, and then, moved by His mercies, we give. Our highest response to His most precious gifts is that we shall ‘take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord,’ and in the depth of thankful and recipient hearts shall say, ‘Blessed be God who hath blessed us.’” His references are taken from Psalm 116, where the psalmist came to this exact conclusion after pondering why God would give all such gifts, such benefits “What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD,” Psalm 116:13 ESV
The only appropriate response is to receive His salvation, His blessings and to call on His name in worship.
