Nougat 4

What do we do about our blessings? Consider Today’s Holy Nougat

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

Bless God, Who has Blessed Us

When we’re at a loss on how to respond to God’s blessings, the Pauline writer has resolved this for us. He begins this epistle with words of blessings – not to the people as expected after reading The Blessing in Numbers 6 – to God. And he is very clear about why God should be blessed.

We bless (venerate, worship) God because of the gifts God bestowed upon us. Gifts?, you ask. Yes, gifts. The first gift clearly mentioned is Jesus Christ, God’s Son. Or well-loved Bible verse reminds us why this Gift is so important:

God loved all of this Creation so much that when sin condemned us to eternal damnation, God allowed Gods only Son to take in our sins, so that in our belief, we would move from Death and damnation to life in eternity.(see John 3:16 for exact translation). For the countless many who’ve wondered about Life after Death, this Gift is the Answer.

But the blessings doesn’t end there. After His ascension, as promised, Jesus sent God’s Spirit, our Advocate. And God’s Spirit makes Santa Claus look stingy! For, with God’s Spirit comes: a Constant Companion, Who never leaves or forsakes us; One Who please with God when we renege on our promises; One Who gives us words to say when we’re called to witness about our faith; One Who is Truth and guides us according to God’s Truth; and at the same time, One Who dwells within at the moment we chose Christ, helping us to grasp what we read in God’s Word and to recall it when necessary.

Those are great gifts that come automatically on acceptance of Jesus as Son of God. We also realize that the spiritual blessings (gifts) in heavenly places also include the Fruit and Gifts of God’s Spirit, which equip us for ministry at all levels. This includes our routine at home and in community, as well as ministry in the church and other spaces.

More details on the Fruit, which is available to all and manifests more and more as we mature in Faith, can be found in Galatians 5. Both Romans and 1 Corinthians 12 provide us with information on the Gifts of God’s Spirit, and the fact that they all contribute to the effective ministry of The Church. However, the Gifts are usually manifested after we intentionally seek them, unlike the Fruit, which is evident in our character over time.

Have we seen evidence of the Fruit of Jesus, The Vine in our lives? Is that not reason to bless God? Moreover, have we intentionally sought out God’s blessed gifts? The tools that enhance the tasks set before us in ministry?

Finally, this blessing is special because of its Trinitarian focus. It acknowledges our being blessed by God, through Jesus, with the Gifts and Fruit of God’s Spirit. All Three actively engaged in blessing us daily. To that, there’s one very appropriate response: we bless God: Creator, Christ and Comforter! Hallelujah!

May all we seek be found in Christ