When Life Just Stinks
Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus.
I don’t know if you’ve noticed this or not – but some days, life just stinks. Some days you wonder, why you even bother? Ever had a day like that? Yeah – me too!
Other people seem to have it all together. The preacher who preaches as though he’s never had a bad day in his life. That friend over there whose family seems to be so loving. That guy over yonder who’s had two promotions in the last year!
Why isn’t my life like that? How come I don’t have it all together like those other people?
I know that you’ve had those thoughts running through your head from time to time, because we all have. We cherry-pick the best bits of everyone else’s lives, and stick them all together, into a composite of the “perfect life” that we imagine that every one other than us, is living. Am I right?
We look at the things that we don’t have, and focus on them. But today, I believe that God wants you to focus on the things that you already have. And so I want to take you to one of my favourite parts of the Bible:
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 1:1)
What does that verse have to do with anything, you might ask? Well it kicks off three chapters – Ephesians Chapters 1, 2 and 3 – that list at least thirty amazing things that you’ve already been given.
For instance, verse 1 there tells you that you are a saint. Verse 2 that follows it, tells you that grace and peace are yours. Verse 3 will tell you that you have already been blessed with every spiritual blessing. On and on it goes.
So here’s my challenge to you today. It’s a challenge that one of my lecturers back in my Bible college days, Dr Barry Chant, set before me. And I can tell you, it’s really worth the effort.
Go and grab a Bible, and read those first three chapters of the book of Ephesians. And each time you come across something that God is telling you that you already have, write it down. Create a list.
I am a saint. Grace and peace are mine. I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing, and so on. See if you can come up with thirty or so on your list. I guarantee that you’ll be amazed at the blessings that have already been poured into your life.
And when you’re done, have a peak at my list. You’ll find it at christianityworks.com/blessings. Again that’s christianityworks.com/blessings.
Try it some time. God has blessed you beyond measure, no matter how much life might stink right at this moment.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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