Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
I must tell you, I read this verse and it feels like it's more than my brain can even try to handle. Think about what we just read together as a description for the follower of the way of Jesus—that we have everything we need, every spiritual blessing. Like, that doesn't really seem like it makes sense or be possible.
But We Still Have Challenges
Here's why. I don't think I need to tell you—we still have a lot of challenges walking around here on earth as Christian people. It's not like saying yes to follow Jesus means that we're no longer confronted with trials or temptations, or that we don't have to navigate difficulties or problems.
No, simply saying yes to Jesus doesn't cause us to avoid every single trial and tribulation. But what we do know to be true from the words of Jesus Himself is that in this life there will be trials. But He tells us to take heart because He has overcome the world.
Paul's Known Experience
When we read in Ephesians this greeting and encouragement that Paul is offering these people at the beginning of the letter, he's not pulling this idea from thin air. He's not just saying things in order to make people feel excited. He's talking to them from known experience.
One of the things that we know about Paul is that when he met Jesus, he experienced a revelation of God's power. He was ambushed by the grace of God, and it changed everything for him.
The Father of Modern Theology
This guy Paul—who we now know is the father of modern theology through what he was writing in the 13 letters in the New Testament that are attributed to him—is writing these things, not because it's a bunch of information that he learned from some person. It tells us in Galatians chapter 1 that he got the Gospel straight from God Himself.
Why This Matters
Why do I spend all of that time unpacking the history of Paul before he wrote this letter? Well, when he writes this encouragement that all spiritual blessings are found in connection with Christ, he's writing from a place of understanding.
This guy Paul will go on in just a few verses—in verse 17 of chapter 1—to say to this same group of people: "I keep asking that the God and Father of our Savior, Jesus, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you will know Him better."
Resource, Not Effort
What Paul was saying is that knowing Christ leads to living in the world from a place of resource—not because of your effort, but because of who He is and what it means to know Him in the world.
Be Encouraged
Today, be encouraged. Know that walking around on earth, you're not left to your own resources. We have every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus.
