For Reading and Meditation:      Ephesians 1:1-14What is it in the heart of most men and women that rejects the idea of God's free and generous offer of salvation? It is pride, the deadliest of all the deadly sins. Bernard Shaw, an example of a modern-day thinker, said: "Forgiveness is a beggar's refuge. We must pay our debts." But we cannot pay our debts. As our spiritual fathers saw so clearly, the only language we can use in the presence of a God who demands so much and whose demands we are unable to meet is: Just as I am without one plea But that Thy blood was shed for me, And that Thou bidd'st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come. In response to our coming, the free unmerited favor of God flows down to us, cancels our debt, imputes and imparts Christ's righteousness to us. How can Christ's righteousness be imputed and imparted to us? It's His righteousness, not ours. A simple illustration may help to illuminate this point. A dull little boy came home from school one day and said to his mother: "We've won a holiday." The truth was another boy had come top of the region in the examinations and the head teacher decided to give the whole school a holiday. Yet the dull little lad said: "We've won a holiday." Grace is like that. God permits the righteousness of Jesus to cover us and then, as we open ourselves to it - to enter us. He did it, but we benefit from it. Isn't grace really amazing?O Father, as I contemplate still further the "riches" of Your grace, once again I have to confess it's truly amazing. No wonder men and women use that term to describe Your grace. No other adjective will do! Amen.<div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>Philippians 4:1-19</li><li>1 Timothy 1:14</li><li>Titus 3:6</li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What has God promised?</li><li>What did Paul testify to Timothy?</li></ul></div></div>

Let a little light into your soul every day with this wonderful devotional from English pastor Selwyn Hughes.

Every Day Light with Selwyn Hughes

"In him we have  the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace " (v. 7)

For Reading and Meditation:      2 Timothy 1:1-18Several of the world's religions, when faced with the perplexing issue of Christ's return from the dead, explain it in terms of reincarnation. A proponent of one of the Eastern religions says: "Christ's resurrection was really a reincarnation - another soul in another body." I once heard a Christian minister declare that Paul's reference to Christ as the firstborn from among the dead (Colossians 1:18) was a clear allusion to reincarnation. There is no doubt that our Lord came from a virgin womb and a virgin tomb, but the body that emerged from the sepulchre was not fashioned in the tomb as it had been when He was an infant in Mary's womb. The body was the same one as before. Others try to explain Christ's resurrection as living on in the recollection of others. "To live in the minds and hearts of those we love," goes a well-known saying often heard at funerals, "is not to die." It has to be acknowledged that some live so vibrantly that it is hard to think of them as dead even after one has attended their funeral. But when we talk about Christ's resurrection, we are not saying He survives in our memories. Recollection is not resurrection. The body which died upon the cross and was laid in the cool tomb on the evening of the first Good Friday was miraculously infused with life once again early in the morning of the first Easter Day. It is as literal and as factual as that. This - nothing less and nothing else - is what we mean by the resurrection of our Lord from the dead.Father, I am so thankful that in bringing Your Son back to life You brought 'life and immortality to light' through the gospel. I know this to be true for in You there cannot be such a thing as death. Life is so sure - as sure as You are. Amen.<div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>Ephesians 1:1-20</li><li>Romans 4:25</li><li>1 Corinthians 15:3-5</li><li>1 Thessalonians 4:13-15</li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What did Paul say was of first importance?</li><li>What does this mean for those who have experienced resurrection life?</li></ul></div></div>

" ... our Savior, Christ Jesus ... has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light ..." (v. 10)

For Reading and Meditation:      Colossians 1:1-20Does salvation come up from mankind through striving, helped by the Divine, or does it come down to us from above, through the act of God and our receptivity of that act? Is it an attainment or an obtainment? The answers separate Christianity from all other religions. Non-Christian religions teach that salvation is the work of mankind; the Christian faith teaches that salvation is the gift of God - Christianity alone falls into the category of obtainment. Some people try to blunt the sharpness of the question "Does mankind strive to reach up to God or does God come down to redeem mankind through the incarnate Jesus?" by saying the answer is both. But by the very nature of things it cannot be both. The starting points are different. One begins with mankind; the other begins with God. Since the beginnings are different, the endings will be different. The whole of the New Testament revolves around the Person and work of Jesus. In some form or another He is on every page. A letter I received protested against a statement I made which went something like this: "There is only one Person around whom the universe can unite, and that Person is Jesus." "There have been good persons in history," said my correspondent, "why not unite around all of them rather than just one?" Because Christ is the meeting point of the human and the divine. No one else can hold that position. An Indian Hindu said recently: "There is no one else bidding for the heart of humanity except Jesus. There is no one else on the field." There isn't! O Father, we want to thank You that when we couldn't come to You, You came down the ladder to us through the Incarnation. We are eternally grateful. Amen.<div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>Ephesians 1:1-23</li><li>John 3:31</li><li>1 Corinthians 8:6</li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>List some of the things that we have obtained in Christ.</li><li>What did John declare about Jesus?</li></ul></div></div>

"... he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead ..." (v. 18) 

All the goodness of the past, the present, and the future, Christ bestows upon his people. In the mysterious ages of the past the Lord Jesus was his Father's first elect, and in his election he gave us an interest, for we were chosen in him from before the foundation of the world. He had from all eternity the prerogatives of Sonship, as his Father's only-begotten and well-beloved Son, and he has, in the riches of his grace, by adoption and regeneration, elevated us to sonship also, so that to us he has given "power to become the sons of God." The eternal covenant, based upon suretiship and confirmed by oath, is ours, for our strong consolation and security. In the everlasting settlements of predestinating wisdom and omnipotent decree, the eye of the Lord Jesus was ever fixed on us; and we may rest assured that in the whole roll of destiny there is not a line which militates against the interests of his redeemed. The great betrothal of the Prince of Glory is ours, for it is to us that he is affianced, as the sacred nuptials shall ere long declare to an assembled universe. The marvellous incarnation of the God of heaven, with all the amazing condescension and humiliation which attended it, is ours. The bloody sweat, the scourge, the cross, are ours for ever. Whatever blissful consequences flow from perfect obedience, finished atonement, resurrection, ascension, or intercession, all are ours by his own gift. Upon his breastplate he is now bearing our names; and in his authoritative pleadings at the throne he remembers our persons and pleads our cause. his dominion over principalities and powers, and his absolute majesty in heaven, he employs for the benefit of them who trust in him. His high estate is as much at our service as was his condition of abasement. He who gave himself for us in the depths of woe and death, doth not withdraw the grant now that he is enthroned in the highest heavens.

This timeless classic from Charles Spurgeon will help to both start and end your day with wonderful insight into God's Word.

Charles Spurgeon's Morning & Evening

"Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings." - Ephesians 1:3

Morning Devotional

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. (Ephesians 1:3 NLT)

Some people seem to think that 
spirituality is a kind of mystical or mythical "something" – that spirituality 
is something remote from reality, a kind of frame of mind. Well, spirituality is 
certainly not a frame of mind in the first place. We speak of a calm and 
heavenly frame... and there may be something of this kind as a fruit of it... 
but spirituality is not a nebulous, mythical, or abstract thing. Spirituality is 
the most practical thing. 
When men or women are called by 
God into some piece of Divine ministry and, in the face of the demand, are 
conscious to the last degree that they have no ability, no resource, no power to 
fulfill that ministry, that in themselves the thing is utterly impossible, that 
for them to essay to do it would be the utmost folly and absurdity – when in 
such circumstances they recognize that they have a living Christ in whom are 
resources more than enough to meet that demand... and by faith lay hold of Him 
and go forward into the ministry with that consciousness... that is 
spirituality; and that is practical, tremendously practical. The issues prove 
that it is practical. It is in that way heavenly things are done.

This devotional contains short daily portions from a selection of Mr. Austin-Sparks' messages. In his own words, “Perhaps this is just like a window opened into heaven. If you get the right window you can see quite a lot. You can see great things and you can see far things. But the best that I can hope is that this has just opened a window, and that as you look through it you are seeing one thing - how superior is Jesus Christ to all else, and how superior is the dispensation into which we have come, and how superior are all the resources at our disposal to all that ever was before!” Open Windows messages have been selected and compiled by Austin-Sparks.Net from the works of T. Austin-Sparks. In some cases they appear in abridged form. The introductory verse and its associated Bible version have been selected by the editor and did not always appear within the original message.

Open Windows

Boundless Heavenly Resources

 Spirituality – A Practical Reality 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3 NIV)

Familiar as these words and
these thoughts are to us, there are tremendous possibilities of
freshness, and newness, about the enjoyment of these things.... If there is
no fresh glimmer of light and glory associated with the
reiteration of this truth, there is all the more reason why we
should ask the Lord what has happened to us, that we could
contemplate such a thing without a stirring of heart. Now, is
that our Christ, the Christ of our experience, the Christ of our
knowledge? Are we living in the realization of that, not to its
fullness – because that fullness will never be exhausted – but in
the wonder of the fullness which lies before? A land flowing
with milk and honey, a good land indeed. Any fresh contemplation
of our Lord in this way should ravish our hearts: Christ, the
fullness of spiritual blessing now, the Sphere of our
experience, our exploring, our enjoyment, our satisfaction. That
is heavenly union with the Lord Jesus. Anybody who is in that is
in heaven. You have not to define and explain to such people what
it means to be in the heavenlies in Christ. They know of what you
are speaking. Spiritual geography is understood by those who walk
up and down in Him and enjoy His fullness.

If you are not there, all that
we can do is to be like the spies, and report upon it, and it is
left with you to say whether you are going in or not. It is left
to the crisis of faith or unbelief, just as it was of old. Do you
believe that that is the Christ Whom God has presented as the
Sphere of your life? If so, go up and possess; appropriate by
faith the fullness that is in Christ for every need which arises, for every 
demand which confronts you.... Let us face the whole issue in this definite way: 
"Lord, it is clearly represented in the Word that You are the fullness of God for me! Here is a
need, a spiritual need. In order that You should be glorified in
me, I by faith take You to meet this need!" That is very simple.
That is almost the infant class of things, but it is a very
effective way of proving the Lord. Do not sink back afterward and
decline into discouragement and say, "Nothing has happened!" Stand
your ground just as Israel had to stand their ground and prove
thereby that the Lord had indeed given.

The Essential Newness of the New Creation - Chapter 4

 The Essential Newness of the New Creation 

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. (Ephesians 1:3,4 NLT)
That which has been chosen before the foundation of the world and which has 
been foreordained unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, has been blessed 
with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies. That is the fullness of God’s 
thought for His own, as a full, comprehensive, utter thought. We have not yet 
come into all those blessings, not because God has not given them, but because 
we have not grown up into them. We have not grown up into Him in all things. 
That is the point of our word, the urge to come to God’s thought, the measure of 
Christ.
What is God’s thought? The full measure of Christ, the fullness of the stature 
of Christ. That is God’s thought for us. Let us lay hold of God’s thoughts; let 
us by faith appropriate those thoughts, let us believe in God’s thoughts, let us 
seek to get into line with those thoughts, and take the Holy Spirit and His 
energies to form us, and constitute us, that God’s thoughts may become living 
expressions in us. That is His purpose: to bring us to the full measure of 
Christ. All that we need to do is to state that as a definite fact, but, mark 
you, it represents a tremendous responsibility. We cannot talk, and hear about 
things like that without coming under tremendous responsibility. If this is the 
revelation of God from heaven in Christ through His Word and to our hearts by 
the Holy Spirit, then it involves us in very great responsibility. Is it 
necessary to speak about responsibility? Ought not God’s thought for us really 
draw out our hearts in unspeakable gratitude and worship? Ought we not to 
recognize these other words here associated with the calling: “according to 
the good pleasure of His will,” the Lord’s delight? You remember what Joshua 
and Caleb said when they reported on the land: “If the Lord delight in us He 
will bring us in.” That is only what we have here. Christ is the Land of God’s 
fullness, and it is according to the good pleasure of His will that we should 
come into that fullness.

The Church of the Firstborn - Chapter 4

 The Full Measure of Christ 

God... who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in 
the heavenly places in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)
The object of our meditation is: Jesus Christ 
in heaven as our Sufficiency.... Our Lord Jesus’ 
resources came from His Father when He was here on this earth. He voluntarily 
lived in a state of absolute dependence on Him. He willed it to be so. He 
refused to have anything in Himself. Everything He needed He drew from heaven; 
He received it from above. When we are in resurrection-union with Christ, the 
Holy Spirit brings us into oneness with Him who is in heaven for us. That means: 
all the resources upon which the Lord Jesus lived are at our disposal. These 
resources were secret resources, that is, they were unknown to the world. The 
people around Him were absolutely in the dark as to the source of His power. 
There was a secret relationship between Him and His Father which impressed them. 
They saw that there was something in the background of His life, a mysterious 
power and knowledge, which was not ordinary to man. He had a whole set of 
resources at His command which no one possessed. He had a knowledge which was 
far beyond man’s understanding. And because He lived a secret life, a life in 
His Father, His resources were mysterious and wonderful to men.
If we live in heavenly union with Jesus Christ 
by the Holy Spirit, the same resources are at our disposal. Let us remind 
ourselves of the Word which is at the basis of our meditation: “The Father of 
our Lord Jesus Christ has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the 
heavenlies in Christ.” That means that all the resources which are in Christ 
are available for us. But we have to learn to live in such close fellowship with 
Him as He lived with His Father in the days of His flesh.

Christ Our All - Chapter 4

 All Available Resources in Christ 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. § Saved by His life. Our … Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. § As He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ … has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. § In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him. § Of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Daily Light on the Daily Path or Daily Light is a Christian daily devotional scripture reading published by Bagster & Sons about 1875. It has been reprinted continually since then. It consists of brief groupings of scripture passages which speak to prominent Biblical themes—two themes (morning and evening) for each day of the year. It appends no commentary, but simply allows scripture to speak for itself.

Morning Daily Light

 God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities. 

I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. 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, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He fore- knew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son … Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Evening Daily Light

 He has made with me an everlastingcovenant, ordered in all things and secure. 

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. § His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good inheritance. § Whether … the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. § 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. I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. § Godliness with contentment is great gain. § My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 My cup runs over. 

<blockquote>
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (<a id="verse_1632879404217762" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Ephesians/1/3">Eph. 1:3</a>)
</blockquote>Since the sovereign God has every atom in the universe precisely timed and controlled for the carrying out of His perfect will, it should not be difficult for us to understand why He is so meticulous in His development of us as His instruments. "Being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will (<a id="verse_1632879404938937" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Ephesians/1/11">Eph. 1:11</a>)."You are one of God's rough diamonds, and He is going to have to cut you so that you may really shine for Him. It takes a diamond to cut a diamond. You are to be ground and cut, and hurt by other diamonds, by other Christians, by spiritual Christians. But the more cutting and the more perfecting, the more you are going to shine for your Lord." -G.M."God in His wisdom has ordained our trials, and it is our folly that causes us not to welcome them. God sends us such trials as are exactly fitted for us. Our Heavenly Father knows what will best serve us. He serves us by trials and by comforts. Let us remember that our trials are few - our evil ways are many; our worthiness nothing - our comforts great. When God tries us let us consider how we have been trying Him. By grace we will not murmur, but humble ourselves under His mighty hand, and He will exalt us in due time.""Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you" (<a id="verse_1632879404878111" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/1-Peter/4/12">1 Pet. 4:12</a>)

A 365 day devotional that will help you in your Christian growth and walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.  This devotional is a collection of quotes from some of the best authors in the realm of Christian growth that has been organized by Miles J Stanford.  This devotional study is divided into 12 sections each containing 31 daily portions.

None but the Hungry Heart

 Designer And Designed 

<blockquote>
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him" (<a id="verse_1632879494102916" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Colossians/2/6">Col. 2:6</a>).
</blockquote>How readily and eagerly we take His Word when He says, "I go to prepare a place for you" (<a id="verse_1632879494799086" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/John/14/2">John 14:2</a>), yet how slow of heart we are to believe that He has prepared a walk for us, here and now! For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us, (taking paths which He prepared ahead of time) that we should walk in them - living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live" (<a id="verse_1632879494373992" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Ephesians/2/10">Eph. 2:10</a>, Amp.)."Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (<a id="verse_1632879494790291" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Ephesians/1/3">Eph. 1:3</a>, ASV). If you can run over in your mind and find one single blessing with which God might bless us today, with which He has not already blessed us, then what He told Paul is not true at all, because He said, God hath....' It is all done, It is finished.' God hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies! The great pity of it all is that we are saying O God bless us - bless us in this, bless us in that! and it is all done; He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ in the heavenlies. It is our place to believe and receive." -L.L.L."According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness" (<a id="verse_1632879494768782" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/2-Peter/1/3">2 Pet. 1:3</a>).

 Prearranged 

<blockquote>O our God . . . we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon Thee" (<a id="verse_1632879721516051" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/2-Chronicles/20/12">2 Chron. 20:12</a>).</blockquote>Many believers have gone only as far as justification can take them - spiritual birth, and a bit beyond. There they stagnate, in dire need of the fresh streams of living water that come from seeing their position in Christ. "God . . . hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (<a id="verse_1632879721914431" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Ephesians/1/3">Eph. 1:3</a>). "Always begin with your position, where you are; and then think of your condition, what you are." -R.P. "Christians are at their wits' end. Many have given up the fight. They still go to church; but secretly they feel that victory is out of the question. They have no weapons for such an hour. Frankly, they have capitulated to the prince of this world, for all their efforts to rout the foe have failed. "But victory is the believer's right, as truly his as the air he breathes. However, he must understand the conditions. He must see himself enthroned with Christ. He must see himself according to God's own Holy Word, as crucified with the Lord Jesus, dead, buried, raised and made to sit in heavenly places with his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Without this he will go down in ignominious defeat in spite of all his strivings and his prayers. With this position he is more than conqueror through Him who loved him and gave Himself for him." -F.J.H."For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (<a id="verse_1632879721646380" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/1-John/5/4">1 John 5:4</a>).

 Highly Placed 

<blockquote>
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (<a id="verse_1632879941716555" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Ephesians/1/3">Eph. 1:3</a>).
</blockquote>The New Testament believer's spiritual growth is not based upon Old Testament doctrine. We are not to neglect the Old, but its introduction of the law was designed to lead to the grace of the New. For a believer who is not yet established in the risen Lord Jesus, it is a temptation to go to the promises of the Old Testament for comfort. This may result in some help at times, but also may bring frustration. It is simply not our ground. "So now we serve not under [obedience to] the old code of written regulations, but under [obedience to the promptings] of the Spirit in newness [of life]" (<a id="verse_1632879941441071" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Romans/7/6">Rom. 7:6</a>, Amp.)."The Law made nothing perfect' (<a id="verse_1632879941849366" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Hebrews/7/19">Heb. 7:19</a>). It was given to discover sin and imperfection, not to impart holiness or perfection. The Lord Jesus has poured out His blessed Spirit that we believers, while on earth, might walk in that spirit of life and liberty that prevails in heaven where Christ is. God has given unto us His human-divine nature, and put within us His Holy Spirit. Shall we not therefore walk in that liberty in which Christ liveth? For He lives the same life of blessed freedom from bondage, and of joyful service to God, within us by His Spirit, as He does seated in a body, in heaven before God His Father." -W.R.N."If I would bring forth fruit and live to God, I must see myself as having died to law. Law is a principle on which we cannot live to God any more than we can be justified.""For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God" (<a id="verse_1632879941110011" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Galatians/2/19">Gal. 2:19</a>).

 Earthly, Or Heavenly? 

<blockquote>
God . . . called me by His grace, to reveal His Son in me" (<a id="verse_1632879965391602" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Galatians/1/15">Gal. 1:15</a>; <a id="verse_1632879965822318895" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Galatians/1/16">16</a>).
</blockquote>Just think! Our Father has placed us in eternal and living union with His Son, that He, not we, may "be."  Moreover, He has placed His Holy Spirit eternally within us that He, not we, may “do.” Further, He has given us the necessary faith and Scripture that we may rest in this wonderful reality, trusting Him “to will and to do of His good pleasure.” This is a far cry from futile struggle and frustrating self-effort!“Christians in the main groan and strive and struggle largely on the basis of human effort where the grace of God, though acknowledged, is scarcely operative-only to come to grief. Even at their best, they find the purpose of the Lord Jesus remains an ideal infinitely beyond their reach. The trouble lies in the fact that they are proceeding on the wrong basis.“God does not expect them, as a result of their own endeavors, to be like the Lord Jesus. He expects them to realize the utter impossibility of such a thing (as in Romans Seven, where Paul comes to the end of himself). He expects them to know the Lord Jesus as their very life, disowning any other. He expects them to realize their position of absolute oneness with Christ, for He ‘has blessed them with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ’ (<a id="verse_1632879965824608" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Ephesians/1/3">Eph. 1:3</a>).” -F.J.H."Be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" (<a id="verse_1632879965406842" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/2-Timothy/2/7">2 Tim. 2:7</a>, ASV).

 Effortless Grace 

<blockquote>
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (<a id="verse_1632877211126171" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Ephesians/1/3">Eph. 1:3</a>).
</blockquote>His love is mine when I know what He did for me; my love is His when I know who He is to me - He who is Love, is my Life. He loved, and died; that I might live, and love. "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine" (S.S. 6:3)."My Father, in His grace, has come in and ended my history in the flesh, by the Cross, and now by the Spirit I am brought into association with His Son at His own right hand in heaven."The Lord Jesus wins my heart in His humiliation; He satisfies it in His glory. A won heart is not necessarily a satisfied heart. But if a heart is truly won by the Lord Jesus it never will be satisfied without Him. No heart that is won is ever satisfied but in the company of the One who won it. Absence does not make the heart grow fonder'! You only discover in absence what you have gained in presence.""We talk of difficulties and perplexities. How little the heart is really in concert, in simple concert with the Lord Jesus! He has gone up to the right hand of the Father in greater power than ever, and He is using the elevation that He has gone to, to effect deliverance for me from all things that would break fellowship between Him and me. And He uses His Word to keep me from all that would interfere with that blessed communion.""Thy Word have I hidden in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee" (<a id="verse_1632877211994231" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Psalm/119/11">Ps. 119:11</a>).

 Loved, To Love 

<blockquote>
Partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world" (<a id="verse_1632877218281602" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/2-Peter/1/4">2 Pet. 1:4</a>).
</blockquote>We are to find out in Romans 6, through the gracious teaching of the Spirit of truth, all that happened to the Lord Jesus there on the Cross. Then we will know our own position and standing, since we were judicially in Him there."Have you ever thought about God's thought about you, that you are to be conformed to the image of His Son'? It doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him' (<a id="verse_1632877218745736" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Romans/8/29">Rom. 8:29</a>; <a id="verse_163287721814392537" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Romans/8/1">1</a> <a id="verse_1632877218703709" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/John/3/2">John 3:2</a>)."This cannot fail. The Lord Jesus presses on our hearts that He brings us into association with Himself. He hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus' (<a id="verse_1632877218265727" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Ephesians/1/3">Eph. 1:3</a>). He puts us in this position answering perfectly to His nature, and with a nature to enjoy it.""He imparts to us of Himself in order to qualify us for Himself.""Not only is my blessing in heaven, but I need the Lord Jesus' power to enable me to rise above the sense of my infirmity down here; for this world, instead of contributing to me, makes me feel my weakness and need, and that I must rise out of it to find and enjoy my blessing."The very infirmity which this evil age makes me conscious of makes me draw upon the power of Christ, as the One outside it, passing into the heavens, so that I take pleasure in the very infirmity which is exposed here, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." -J.B.S."God forbid that I should glory, except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (<a id="verse_1632877218733266" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Galatians/6/14">Gal. 6:14</a>).

 Calvary's Secret 

<blockquote>Ye have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God" (<a id="verse_1632877788228133" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Colossians/3/3">Col. 3:3</a>).</blockquote>When we rely upon and cater to the old man, that ground produces "the works of the flesh" (1). But as we abide in the risen Lord Jesus, that new ground of our position, His life will be manifested in "the fruit of the Spirit" (<a id="verse_1632877788366521" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Galatians/5/22">Gal. 5:22</a>; <a id="verse_1632877788118996260" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Galatians/5/23">23</a>)."God's Word declares that we are dead indeed unto sin,' but nowhere does it say that we are dead in ourselves. We shall look in vain within to find death there. We have died to sin; not in ourselves, but in Christ,' and our death with Him is as sure as His death, and since we died with Him it is impossible for His death to be certain and ours uncertain."We were crucified with Him because we were in Him (<a id="verse_1632877788822996" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Galatians/2/20">Gal. 2:20</a>). We are raised in Him (<a id="verse_1632877788610426" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Ephesians/2/6">Eph. 2:6</a>); we are complete in Him (<a id="verse_1632877788576440" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Colossians/2/10">Col. 2:10</a>); we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Him (<a id="verse_1632877788690795" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Ephesians/1/3">Eph. 1:3</a>); the entire work regarding us is not done in us but in the Lord Jesus - the Father has done all in His Son. If you stand on the ground of what the Lord Jesus is (abide), you will find in your growth that all that is true of Him is becoming true of you; but if you remain on the ground of what you are in yourself, you will find that all that is true of the old man is true of you in life and walk.""The purpose of Paul, in Romans Six, is to show how completely the believer is identified with the Lord Jesus when He died unto sin.' To enter fully into the meaning of that death is to see that He has emancipated us from any further dealings with our old master, sin. The believer is privileged thus to take his position in the risen Lord Jesus, who is now alive unto God.' From that ground he is henceforth to regard sin." -E.H."Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty with which Christ hath made us free" (<a id="verse_1632877788336920" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Galatians/5/1">Gal. 5:1</a>).

 Groundwork 

<blockquote>
But now in Christ Jesus ye who once were far off are made near by the Blood of Christ" (<a id="verse_1632878124293377" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Ephesians/2/13">Eph. 2:13</a>).
</blockquote>To know the Lord Jesus is to love Him; and to love Him is to insist on being with Him; to "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (<a id="verse_1632878124242628" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Philippians/3/14">Phil. 3:14</a>)."Our growth is wrought out in our lives down here; but it is formed up there in fellowship with the Lord Jesus, where our affections and minds get into the condition to be manifested down here." -J.N.D."Every blessing is now connected with the Lord Jesus at the right hand of the Father. Hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ' (<a id="verse_1632878124698953" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Ephesians/1/3">Eph. 1:3</a>). It is a great thing to have the consciousness that we are bound up with Him there in heavenly glory, and to know that we are with Him in that sphere of ascension to participate in all that constitutes His life in that blessed circle of love and glory where He lives unto the Father. If we apprehend this we shall not be deceived and intoxicated by what goes on upon the earth." -C.A.C."Most do not go beyond His resurrection; they do not extend to His ascension. They do not know the Lord Jesus in glory. They are occupied with Him in relation to their own side. He was at my side and glorified the Father perfectly in His walk here, and in death; but He is now at His own side, and it is there I intelligently realize the vastness of my life in Him, for He is my life."His death, resurrection and ascension translated the believer from his own side to His side, so that as He is so are we in this world; and according as we are at full rest about ourselves, we are occupied with Him who has set us free for fellowship." -J.B.S."Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the Holiest by the Blood of Jesus" (<a id="verse_1632878124165499" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Hebrews/10/19">Heb. 10:19</a>)

 Height Advantage " 

<blockquote>
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (<a id="verse_1632878314894472" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Ephesians/1/3">Eph. 1:3</a>a).
</blockquote>One's growth is gauged by one's gaze."The first impression on my heart when converted was, Enoch walked with God.' That was my start. Now then, I said, I will walk with God. Beautiful as far as it went; but I very soon found, as Luther said to Philip Melancthon, You will find old Melancthon stronger than young Philip!"I came to my wit's end, for I wanted to find whence to draw so as to live it out. You are unable to live out of resources in yourself - you must not act as though your life is separate; the Lord Jesus must be the fountain. It is all very well to get the heavenly side of truth; but let me remind you that this alone will not do, for nothing will compensate for lack of walking in fellowship with the Father and the Son." -G.V.W."It is one thing to drop off or renounce certain things, and quite another to be engrossed with the right thing. Monks renounce much, but they are not engrossed with the Lord Jesus Christ. It must be not only forgetting those things which are behind,' but also reaching out unto the things that are above. It is that which you give yourself to, not what you have abandoned, that colors you and which imparts character to you." -J.B.S."Look at the Lord Jesus firmly and fixedly, never letting your gaze wander elsewhere; and whatever temporal objects come between you and your Lord, look right through them, as through a mist, and fix your eyes and heart upon Him and Him alone. Whatever condition you find yourself in, do not let either earth or heaven hide Him." -J.H."Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (<a id="verse_1632878314451084" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Ephesians/1/3">Eph. 1:3</a>b).

 Personal Attention 

<h3>Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ</h3> 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Ephesians 1:3

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,<cr>1</cr> who has blessed us in the heavenly realms<cr>2</cr> with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,   who has blessed us in the heavenly realms   with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

From Wikipedia: 

The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Bible first published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was published to meet the need for a modern translation done by Bible scholars using the earliest, highest quality manuscripts available. Of equal importance was that the Bible be expressed in broadly understood modern English.

The NIV is published by Zondervan in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. The NIV was updated in 1984 and 2011 and has become one of the most popular and best-selling modern translations.

OT: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; additional sources;
NT: UBS Greek New Testament; Novum Testamentum Graece; additional sources;

New International Version

 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,   who has blessed us in the heavenly realms   with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Bible Verse of the Day

May 12, 2000

Ephesians 1:3 NIV

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