December 8th

Day 8

Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12

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, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the
world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children
through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace
that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance,
having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to
his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the
praise of his glory.

The phrase "spiritual blessings in heavenly places" reminds us that there are times when heaven
touches earth. The mundane is transformed into something exceptional. This passage opens with the statement, "Blessed be God...the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

This way of thinking about God became distinctive of Christianity. In the gospels Jesus spoke of God as Father. The intimate term Father declares the Christian's faith that the great power who created and sustains and orders all things is not thought of as remote, formidable and unknowable but one who is friendly, and personally loveable, one whose character is known through Jesus. During the period of the pandemic we may have felt a sense of remoteness. This passage reminds us that God is always close by.   

Prayer

Ever present God you are with us through the difficult and easy times of life. We thank you that
your abiding presence has sustained us in these challenging times. May we who experience 'spiritual blessings in heavenly places' be a blessing to others.