IT'S LIT!

Image result for clipart showing lit firesi don't know what was missing in my diet as a four or five year old, but I can recall sitting behind a chair secretly sucking off the tips of burned matches. EHHH! I had two parents that smoked, and I could gather up the burned matches from the ash trays.  Strange, I know!  I was not interested in playing with the matches and striking them, but only in the ones burned. 

In my readings for today, I have read the book of Ephesians which is like trying to ingest an elephant, but I loved the first verses of chapter one as Paul, the author, offers praise to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for spiritual blessings.  If your spiritual life at the present is like "burned matches" because your fervor and devotion have gotten cold, I remind you of what Paul reminds us in chapter 1 with the hope your spirit life with be lit up again. 
  • HE has chosen us before the creation of the world.
  • HE chose us to be holy and blameless in HIS sight.
  • In love, HE marked us out beforehand to be adopted as HIS sons through Christ Jesus according to HIS purpose and will for us.  (In that culture when a child or adult was adopted, he could NEVER be disclaimed for he had the rights of a natural born child.)
  • HE has freely given us HIS grace...unmerited favor.
  • We have redemption (HE brought us off the slave block of sin.  HE paid the ransom demanded for our sin by HIS shed blood.) through HIS blood shed.
  • We have forgiveness of our sins in accordance with HIS riches of HIS grace which HE lavished on us.
  • HE lavished HIS grace on us with all wisdom and understanding.
  • HE has given us the ability to understand the great mystery of the ages which baffled the Jews, that we Gentiles who were "far off" have been "brought near" and reconciled to God through the Cross which Christ endured for you and me.
  • We are marked with HIS Holy Spirit who is the Deposit guaranteeing our redemption that we are possessions of God.  
 I hope as you mull on these spiritual blessings which are divinely supernatural commendations to us that they will rekindle your faith and hope.  If after reading, you are still cold "burned" matches...might need to move to confession of sin and repent...HE longs to restore and fire up your spirit again.  HE reminds us not to "quench" the Holy Spirit and our sin, one or many, causes the spirit life to become "burned matches"!  Fire us Holy Spirit that we might burn out for YOU and the sake of the kingdom.  Forever learning.  In process and still burning.  #IHAVETHREESONS

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