"and [God] raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:6-7 [ESV]
This morning I paused here and read it over and over again. One of the things that we have been learning in Biblical Counseling class is that our counselees must have a renewed inner-man before the teachings of God in His word have any impact or effect. When we genuinely accept Jesus into our hearts and surrender our lives to Him, it is God raising us with Christ from spiritual death. The togetherness with the resurrection of Jesus cannot be understated. The concept of our accredited glory is forever linked to who Christ is and what He did for us.
The second thing we must acknowledge here is that God seated us with Christ in the heavenlies. Remember in chapter 1:21-22 where Paul tells everything that has been put under Jesus and for all time….well, that is the heavenly place that we spiritually sit with Jesus and is a piece of the full redemption to come. There is nothing in the earth, heavenly places, principalities, domains, or anything else that is not under the feet of Jesus and we are IN Him. All that we have today in our Salvation, has secured for us the immeasureable riches to come; through the lavish kindness and grace we have because of our position IN Jesus.
Application:
Two things – 1) I need to remember that those who are not raised in Jesus from their spiritual deadness, cannot be expected to respond to biblical teaching or counseling. God must call them to Himself and they must accept the free gift of God’s grace through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. 2) My situation, my circumstances here on this earth are not the end. What awaits me at the end of this age is unthinkable joy and togetherness with my Savior in the light of His glory. What I have to endure here is nothing in comparison. My plight while I am here is to draw as close as I possibly can to my Lord and Savior and be sure that I am taking every opportunity to be used by Him to draw others to or back to Himself.
Today’s Psalm:
The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
Psalms 33:10-12 [ESV]
he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
the plans of his heart to all generations.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!