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Blessings
Going into an antique store brings an instant sense of walking into the lives of other people. You see things which once belonged to someone, things that were a part of their home. The oldest things are the most curious because they have the most history.
Things from a hundred years ago are especially thought provoking, particularly an item that was well used by a family. It may be an old kitchen table, kind of rough around the edges from all the kids who have eaten from it and played chase around it. Were there Bible studies and discussions around it, and prayers before meals?
Old rocking chairs really stir your mind. There’s nothing like an old timey rocker. How many babies had been rocked to sleep in it by its mother while she sang a hymn, or just sat in it to read from the Bible. The rocker arms worn from hands moving across them while the person rocks and ponders how beautiful heaven must be, or thanking God in silent prayer for their family.
You might find an old writing desk with an ink stain from the days before ball-point pens. Letters were hand written to friends and brethren and to loved ones far away.
How about this old oil lamp, with its light a blessing from God to take away the darkness? Did they use its light to study God's word or prepare a lesson?
You see so many good physical blessings from God and things that we need and are put to good use as we should. While we cherish things, we can't take them with us when we leave this earth. They will belong to someone else someday. They are the temporary blessings of our physical life. God is concerned for our physical needs and well-being and should always thank Him for His provision.
The following text is an excerpt from CG (Colly) Caldwell's commentary on Ephesians:
"God is much more concerned, however, about giving spiritual provisions or "blessings" (John 14:1-3; Romans 8:28)."
God wants to provide:
(a) Enlightenment concerning himself. God is a personal divine being. He wishes that human beings know his personality and understand his nature. Our knowledge of God is the result of having God the Son visit man on earth in human form (John 1:1-18; 14:1-9).
(b)Revelation of his will. We need to know more than who God is. We need to know what he expects of us and why. God has richly blessed us by telling us what pleases Him. The inspired Scripture make known His will (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
(c)Salvation by grace through faith. Knowing God and His will for man would be frustrating if God had not made provision for re-establishment of fellowship with man through forgiveness. He owes us nothing ,but.by grace he offers salvation. That salvation is a free gift or blessing granted when we receive it through an active, responsive faith (Eph. 2:1-10; Rom. 6:23; 5:1-11).
(d) Sonship and inheritance. God has not only desired our cleansing from past sins, He wants to establish intimate relationship with us. He has, therefore, offered us the right to be called "sons of God" (John 1:10; Gal. 3:26-29; Acts 26:18). With sonship go all the blessings of inheritance from the Father's estate.
(e) The quality of spiritual life on earth. Having become children of God, we no longer serve sin. The quality of our lives has become spiritual rather than physical. It takes on heavenly or eternal qualities in contrast to the worldly or temporal qualities of the life in sin (Rom. 6:1-23).
(f)Anticipation of life in heaven. Among the promises included in our inheritance are the blessings of eternal life in heaven. Resurrection from death is promised and beautiful eternal mansions are being prepared for us (1 Thess. 4:13-18; Rev. 21:1-4).
