Sometimes I don't feel very blessed, and certainly not with all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly places. Like today...shopping. I hate shopping, especially around the holidays when I can't push my cart more than 3 ft without running into a holiday display or another frantic shopper. Reflecting on today's verse, I felt like my list of under-my-breath curses was longer than my spiritual blessings.
And yet there it is, in the past tense no less: "has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places." So what is at work here? Is this another of those instances where, if it were too good everyone would want it for the wrong reasons? If being faithful to God meant instant experience of all spiritual blessings, maybe everyone would want to be faithful just for the blessings.
Or maybe I'm looking at blessings in an upside down way. Surely Jesus was blessed and His life was much harder than my shopping woes. If I complain about that, how much more would I complain about betrayal and murder? It all reminds me of a song by Derek Webb. The refrain is this:
But I give myself to what looks like love
And I sell myself for what feels like love
And I pay to get what is not love
And all just because I see things upside down
("What is Not Love" on I See Things Upside Down)
Maybe I've been blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, but I'm still acting like I am not because I see blessings as nuisances or interruptions or suffering, pain, and the like. These moments are filled with potential spiritual blessings-- I am just too focused on myself to notice. Not to steal my thunder in a couple months, but Ephesians 5:15-16 seems an appropriate note to end on tonight.
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
By the will of God,
Jonathan
1 comment:
My sweet love- I felt very blessed by you today. Although you may have not found the blessing in running into crazy shoppers during the mad-dash of the Christmas season, I, was so very thankful for you today. Your willingness to run out and run some errands for me on top of a grocery run to bring me home so crackers and gingerale blessed me more than words can express!
I love you Jonathan Stube!! I am really enjoying reading the bible together with you each night and also to read about your journey through Ephesians. <3
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