It is common in the church to hear people say God has blessed them with more than they ever deserved. In fact, I would say most Christians have said this same statement or one very similar. While it is true that we have all been blessed with more than we deserve many people miss what that blessing really is. Too often when we speak of how God has greatly blessed us in regards to our family, job, income, house, cars, clothes, and possessions. While those are all blessings and things to be thankful for they hardly compare to the reason we are truly blessed.
You see there are plenty of lost people in the world that also have those same things. They even feel blessed as we do. Even though that feeling doesn’t relate to God. Living comfortably is a great reason to feel blessed. But with or without them every Christian still has received more from God than they ever deserved. I am referring to those things God has gifted us that the lost will never be able to earn. No matter how hard they may try to. The blessings that are reserved only for those who submit their life to God. Those being mercy, forgiveness, unending love, peace, and eternal life in Heaven.
1 Peter 1:3 (ESV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Ephesians 1:7 (ESV)
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
Romans 8:38–39 (ESV)
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 (ESV)
16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.
John 3:16–17 (ESV)
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Revelation 21:3–4 (ESV)
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
By granting us those, God has given us so much more than we are, or ever will be, worthy of. The Bible tells us what we deserved based on the sinful lives we once lived. Our path was headed toward death and destruction. But God looked on us with compassion and blessed us greatly by offering us forgiveness for all our sins. He made a way for us to be free from sin and took away the sting of death. Making us eligible for eternal life spent with Him in the kingdom of Heaven.
Romans 3:23–24 (ESV)
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
Romans 6:23 (ESV)
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ephesians 2:4–6 (ESV)
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
1 Corinthians 15:55–57 (ESV)
55 “O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is easy to confuse the things of this world that God has graciously granted you with as the reason you are greatly blessed. But in reality, they can’t compare with the real way God has blessed you and the real reason you should be exceedingly grateful. The Bible records that Jesus gave seventy-two of His disciples the power to do many great things. Yet when they returned rejoicing Jesus rebuked them and told them to instead rejoice because their names are recorded in Heaven.
Luke 10:17–20 (ESV)
17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Likewise, God has blessed us with many great things but the greatest blessings will always be those related to salvation. The reason you are greatly blessed is not that you have a nice house, car, or a good job. Those blessings will soon fade away. The reason you are greatly blessed is that you have been granted salvation even though you never deserved it. Whatever we do we can never elevate the temporal blessings of this world above the great blessing of being saved by grace.
Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Be thankful for all God has blessed you with giving Him all the credit. Just make sure you never become more thankful for your life than your salvation. Tell everyone you can about all your God has done for you even though you didn’t deserve any of it. But always be sure to point out that the greatest undeserved blessing you were granted was the forgiveness of sins and the renewing of the spirit. God blesses us in many ways but nothing can compare and nothing is less deserved than the blessing of salvation.
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