ARE YOU LOOKING FOR SOMETHING YOU ALREADY HAVE?

Warren Wiersbe tells the story of how William Randolph Hearst once read of an extremely valuable piece of art, which he decided he had to add to his collection. After months of searching, his agent reported that the piece already belonged to Mr. Hearst and had been stored in one of his warehouses.*

In many ways, believers become caught up with wanting more in our spiritual life. They want more of the Holy Spirit, more of Jesus, more of God’s presence. This implies that it was not given to them in absolute completeness the moment they received Christ. Yet, Peter reminds us that “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3)

I point the believer to Ephesians chapter 1 for a long list of what God as already given us,

He has blessed us in the heavenly realms
He has given use every spiritual blessing in Christ
He has chosen us before creation (v. 4 and 11)
He has made us to be holy and blameless in His sight
He has predestined us for adoption to sonship
He had lavished his grace upon us
He has given us his love
He has given us redemption through his blood
He has provided forgiveness of sin
He has made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure for the praise of his glory.
He has included us in Christ
He has given us the seal of the Holy Spirit
He has given us his inheritance
He has given us access to the spirit of wisdom and revelation so we can know him better.
He has given us hearts that can be enlightened so that we may know the riches of his glorious inheritance.
He has given us encompassing great power as believers, the same power that resurrected Jesus will one day resurrect us.

As I read over this incredible list, I wonder how we often act as paupers when we have riches. Why do we often look to the temporal, small shed of material blessing while ignoring the indescribable value of spiritual blessing that we have been given? May our hearts be enlightened, as Paul prayed, to mediate upon our glorious inheritance, now and in the days ahead.