To Encourage You

Ephesians 1:16-18 “ I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints . . . “

Do you realize that, without God’s help, it is impossible to explain, as well as to understand, the wonderful things God has for those who will believe? God’s blessings are supernatural blessings. Everyone on the face of the earth experiences certain aspects of the common grace of God. Every good gift in any of our lives comes from God (James 1:17). Things like eyesight, hearing, the ability to walk, food and water that sustains us, a warm breeze, and a glorious sunrise; all of them are gifts from God and most people have experienced some or all of them. However, the things that God wants to give us are so far above these common things that experiencing them must be prayed about to understand them. While we can see natural things with our natural eyesight, these supernatural blessings involve the eyes of our hearts that can only be enlightened by the supernatural power of God.

God has in store for the believer a hope that is beyond anything that anyone without a relationship with Him can possibly know. God has an inheritance in store for the believer that is described as “the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints.” Elsewhere, we are told that “no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). It’s a wonderful and glorious truth. Much of it can be experienced in this life, while the fullness of it will be experienced in the next. The glorious truths of the Word of God, the measureless love of the Son of God, and the peace, joy, and hope of Christ in the heart are only possible for those who believe.

By contrast, those without God are constantly pursuing things that will never satisfy them. There may be short-term satisfaction, but it never lasts. It always comes short of the good things that God has for us, and the soul senses that if one takes time to be quiet and think. To this the Holy Spirit says “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food” (Isaiah 55:2). The key to true soul satisfaction is then given in these words: “Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live” (Isaiah 55:3).

God’s Word: it’s more precious than gold, which we all know “we can’t take with us.” As Jesus said to the devil when he tempted Him to make stones into bread at the end of a 40-day fast “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Food satisfies for a moment, just like the forbidden fruit eaten by Adam and Eve apparently did, but in the end, it leaves us empty, while God’s Word fills us with the eternal satisfaction of the knowledge of God. And to think that it’s all free to anyone who would turn from their sin, come to Him for forgiveness, and trust Him. What a wonderful invitation He gives us all with these words: “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price” (Isaiah 55:1). That’s why Jesus came; to pay the price for your and my sin, so that we could receive the free gift of His own eternal life. Jesus came so that we might have life and have it more abundantly.

So, do you know Him? Have you tasted and seen that the Lord is good? If not, whatever you are pursuing, whatever you think will fill and satisfy you, it comes far short of the riches that God has for you, things that only He can give and that the person without him can’t even imagine, no matter how hard he or she might try.