Thought for July 10, 2023

1925: Scopes "Monkey Trial" begins in Dayton TN. The debate over Darwinism led to the creation of the first Baptist Faith and Message.

Born: John Calvin, Nikola Tesla, Arthur Ashe, 

Died: Clement Moore ["A Visit from Saint Nicholas"], Hadrian, El Cid

Thought:

Reading Ephesians 1:3-14 today. So much to consider in these few verses. This morning, I am focused on verse 3 where we are told that in Christ we have been blessed with "every spiritual blessing in heavenly places." The next verses enumerate these blessings, but this morning just think for a moment about what Paul says in verse 3. 

When we begin to count our blessings, think about how long that would take, for we have EVERY Spiritual Blessing. I wonder how many spiritual blessings there are? And each of us has every single one of them in Jesus. This puts in my heart the melody to that great hymn, "Count Your Blessings." The hymn was written by Johnson Oatman [he wrote over 5000 hymns including "Higher Ground"]. Think about the words to that hymn this morning--When do we need to count our blessings?  What does the hymn say?

• When we are tempest tossed, the world is beating us up. 
• When we are discouraged, we think evil is winning. 
• When we are burdened with a load of care, problems are overwhelming us.
• When our cross gets so heavy we stumble under the weight.
• When we see others with wealth, power and fame, and feel poor and neglected.
• When in the middle of conflicts--physical, mental, spiritual. 

Why count our blessings? 

• Naming them one by one reminds us of the great, loving and mighty God we serve.
• Naming them surprises us at how greatly we are blessed.
• Naming them defeats the doubt and fear and replaces it with singing praises.
• Naming them reminds us that the riches in Christ are more valuable than money---as Paul says, we count everything garbage compared to knowing Jesus.
• Naming them calls down the host of angels to assure and comfort us for He is the Lord of Hosts. 

In Martin Luther's book, "Table Talk," he points out that a hungry man is more thankful for a morsel than a rich man for a full table; that a lonely woman in a nursing home appreciates a visit more than a society woman appreciates a party in her honor. We seem to be thankful in reverse proportion to God's blessings. Finally, he says if birds only sung once a year, we would listen expectantly and gratefully, but because they sing all the time, we don't bother to listen. 

Today, in Christ we have EVERY Spiritual Blessing. That's something to rejoice about, sing about and tell everyone else about! Johnson Oatman would say, "do not be discouraged, God is over all. Count your many blessings angels will attend, help and comfort give you to your journeys end." 

Blessings

Larry