July 26, 2022 – Reflections on “Blessed Be The Father!”

       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, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love, He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:3-6.

         What is a blessing? It is an inheritance from God when we live righteous lives and choose to obey. A blessing is a two-way relationship between God and each of us when we choose to obey His Commandments, for this pleases our Father God.

         Jesus taught the two greatest commands: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39.

         Loving God with all our hearts is evident when we please Him by loving others. We please Him by believing and trusting our Lord God, who created us and chose us to be His Children.

         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, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love, He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:3-6.

      We cannot accomplish this alone. It is only when we place our trust in Him and depend on Him do we see our Lord God, the Creator of the Universe, transforming our hearts and minds. We bless the Lord for His Goodness to us each day.

     The first step is to pray to our Lord God in the Name of Jesus, thanking Him from Whom all blessings flow. My Mother was often heard thanking God, and praising Him, singing the Doxology, Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise Him, all creatures here below, Praise Him above the Heavenly host, Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

         Are you aware when God blesses you? Do you thank Him, or consider yourself lucky? I remember singing the hymn, Count Your Many Blessings, not understanding the reality of the Showers of Blessings. Count your blessings, name them one by one; Count your blessings, see what God hath done; Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. (Oatman).

            How can we learn more about this Father God of ours? Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” John 14:9.

         Reading about Jesus in His Word, we will know God. We know how God loved Jesus, for God trusted Him to come to earth and speak and become the sacrifice on the cross for our sins. Did Jesus want to do this? In the garden with His disciples, He asked them to watch with Him as He prayed. Then He said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here and watch with me.” And going a little farther, he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:38-39.

         Jesus has the heart of a servant and honors His Father with obedience. God blesses us with things not considered worthy by the world and its darkness. “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love!” I Corinthians 13:13.

         Hope is looking forward to life everlasting with our Lord God. Our eternity begins when we accept Jesus as our Savior, and we are transformed into a new creature who reflects the glory of Jesus through the gifts of the Holy Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23.

        Knowing what love is – Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. I Corinthians 13:4-8.

         Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! Psalm107:1.

           Good and upright is the Lord; therefore, He instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right and teaches the humble His way. All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness for those who keep His covenant and His testimonies. Psalm 25:8-10.

Therefore, God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:9-13.

And I will sing… I hear You calling, come, Forever I will run unto You, oh God, And now You have my heart! (Rodriguez)