The Best list of amenities money can't buy
Hello Saints,
I am sure that most, maybe all of you reading this have had to shop for a car at some point in your lives. When you do so you’re usually looking for a vehicle that has certain features, amenities, even luxury items. Whether you look online, or go to the dealership, the list of features listed on the window sticker or the website is where the details of the items your car must have are listed. If you’re a car enthusiast, you may even know what the different packages and trim levels mean on the car listing, like L, XLT, Limited, Platinum, Etc. Back in the day…it was easy; ‘fully loaded’ meant basically air conditioning and power locks and power seats. Today’s vehicles are loaded with required technology and have amenities galore as ‘base’ models (do they even make cars with manual roll down windows). The ‘Limited’ version of a vehicle is a high end one, with a whack of features. I never knew what ‘Limited’ meant on a vehicle till recently – it means that few of this model were made, and they are literally fully loaded with gadgets and features that one will never use nor understand. Well, you guessed it…that’s the vehicle we have. Not because we wanted a “Limited’ vehicle, but because that was the only used hybrid SUV on the lot at the time we were looking. Well, after a few months, I came to realize a new meaning for ‘Limited’ – you have a whack of features and amenities at your disposal, but only a ‘limited’ number of them work when you want them to. Conclusion: more gadgets means more problems; and they are not ones that you can just keep driving and ignore; they’re downright annoying. So…off to the dealership I go…again!
Ephesians 1:3-14 is the window sticker to our new life in Christ – the cost and all the amenities available to us, called ‘spiritual blessings’. It’s one long sentence in the Greek text listing all the benefits of our salvation. The cost to obtain these ‘blessings’ is 0…nothing. It’s all a free gift, given by God’s grace through the shed blood of His Son (1:7). The result is exuberant, overwhelming gratitude, praise and blessing towards God. I encourage you to just sit and meditate on these twelve verses this week, and take in all that the Father blesses us with in offering us salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Reading this list of amenities is greater than driving the fanciest car the world has to offer – and it’s all already yours because of Jesus – ‘every spiritual blessing is ours in Christ” (1:3). Chosen and adopted, not because we are better or more valuable than another, but because of God’s great love for us and His good pleasure, He has declared us ‘holy and blameless’ in, through and because of Jesus (1:4-5). For His glory and because of His grace, we have been accepted in the Beloved (1:6). Redemption and forgiveness is ours, free of charge, because of the great sacrifice and payment Christ offered on our behalf (1:7). Friends, redemption and forgiveness equals Freedom! Our debt is paid, the prison door is open and we are released to be who we were created to be – get in, put the top down, and ride in your newly purchased life! “He has showered His kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding” (1:8). His mind is our mind, His plan is our plan – what is that plan? We are God’s plan - to bring everything together under Christ, which is where we are – in Him. We are part of His inheritance, and through Him we receive our inheritance – Him and His kingdom (1:9-10). “It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, He had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose He is working out in everything and everyone” (1:11-12 MSG). Chosen for glorious living! Saints, this is so incredible! This package comes with a guarantee – God sealed us with His Holy Spirit – our inheritance is secure and certain, which we will receive when He returns to bring the fullness of our redemption. What’s the best way to live in light of all that God has done for us in Christ? Live praising Him, bringing glory to His name. (1:13-14). This package is not called ‘Limited’ to a few…it’s available to all who will hear, receive, and believe the good news of salvation offered through the blood of Christ Jesus (1:13). It’s luxury at it’s finest; true living, found only in Jesus because every blessing worth pursuing are the spiritual blessings that are ours in Christ.
Live Loud!
"Advancing the Kingdom of God by releasing Spirit-filled followers to serve Jesus in freedom and joy."
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