Wednesday, January 1, 2014

FIRST OF ALL, HE SAYS WE ARE BLESSED v.3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,  Ephesians 1:3

It’s the beginning of another new year.  It does not seem possible that a whole year could fly by so fast but it has.  I love the start of a new year.  I love the thought of beginning again, a second chance, a new start, and new possibilities.  How about you? How do you feel about the New Year?  Are you approaching it with apprehension or anticipation?  In the first chapter of Ephesians, Paul gives us some reasons to feel anticipation. 

Michael Bausch tells a great story about archaeologist Howard Carter. In 1922 Carter was completing nearly fifteen years of digging in the famous Valley of the Kings in Egypt. He was hoping to find the royal tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamen. Having found nothing, his days of digging were coming to an end. Money was running out. Then workers discovered sixteen stairs leading into the earth. Thousands of baskets filled with rocks and sand had to be carried away, but eventually a door was found at the end of a long passageway. Carter drilled a small hole in the door and stuck an iron-testing rod into a dark, blank space. He then inserted a candle into the hole and peered in. As his eyes grew accustomed to the light, details emerged into his view, and he saw strange animals, statues, and everywhere the glint of gold.  He wrote of that moment, "For the moment, I was struck dumb with amazement." A partner asked, "Can you see anything?" And Carter's reply was, "Yes, wonderful things." 

Paul gives us some reasons you and I can look into this New Year and see wonderful things. Today we will look at the first reason we can look forward to a new year with anticipation instead of anxiety.

FIRST OF ALL, HE SAYS WE ARE BLESSED v.3
A certain king had two servants. To the first he said, "I want you to travel for six months through my kingdom and bring back a sample of every weed you can find."  To the second servant the king said, "I want you to travel through my kingdom for six months and bring back a sample of every flower you can find."  Six months later, both servants stood before the king. To the first, the king asked, "Have you carried out my command?" The first servant answered, I have, and I was amazed to find there were so many weeds in the kingdom. In fact, there is nothing but weeds in this kingdom!" 

To the king's question the second servant also answered, "I have, and I am amazed how many beautiful flowers there are in the kingdom. In fact, there is nothing but beautiful flowers in this kingdom!"

These two servants each found what they were looking for. So do we. Are there really no blessings in your life? Do you have no one who loves you, no beauty outside your window, no strength left in your body, no mind to guide you to new pleasures and opportunities, no faith to bear you up when circumstance weighs you down? Are you really without any resources for making this year a wonderful year?  Look again at your life and see what God has done.

Paul points us to our heavenly resources which are there regardless of what the world offers. Count your blessings, says the old hymn. Count your blessings. We are blessed!

Scripture to Claim:

How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!  Psalm 32:1

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