When my parents moved our family to Texas in the early nineties, we joined a large church in our new town. We found our place at a contemporary Sunday service, where worship lyrics were projected onto walls and the pastor swapped his wooden pulpit for a music stand. After service, I’d run around back corridors of the auditorium with friends, playing hide-and-seek in racks of white baptismal robes.
We often made weekend trips back to our native Arkansas, where our presence on Sundays at my grandparents’ small church was always warmly noticed. We’d slide down the same pew my grandparents had held since the 1970s, and I practiced my reading skills in the order of service, asking my grandmother in loud whispers what words like invocation and kyrie meant.
The church we attended when our children were little met in a middle school gym. Our four-year-old daughter delighted in seeing the yellow school buses lined up outside every Sunday morning, almost as much as she enjoyed refusing to high-five the greeters as she entered the building.
The list of differences between these churches isn’t short, spanning from order of service to how attendees dress, from views on baptism to how internal debates about new carpet might be resolved. Still, when I think about these church families—their love for Jesus and one another—I stop what I’m doing to thank God for them (Ephesians 1:15–16). Why?
Because as Paul constantly reminds his readers, our shared faith is more essential than our differences. The church at Ephesus needed to hear the call to focus on what they held in common, both as a local community and as believers who shared the same faith as the broader Church in places like Galatia, Philippi, Rome, and beyond. Don’t miss the words repeated over and over in these opening verses: as believers, we are defined both as individuals and as a people by who we are in Him. We share “spiritual blessings” from God with one another. We are called faithful saints in Christ Jesus. In Him we have redemption, forgiveness, grace. In Him we have received an inheritance. In Him we were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. Our hope is in Him.
Throughout this letter, Paul called his readers to be unified, to not forget the goodness and truth of all we hold in common. Part of the miracle of our faith is that two thousand years later, we are a part of this same family. Our brothers and sisters are sitting next to us on Sunday mornings, they are reading the Word across our towns and around the world, and they were listening to Paul’s letter at a house in Ephesus in the early AD 60s. We are all brought together in Jesus Christ.
As the Church, we are the body of Christ, His hands and feet, called to proclaim His goodness to a lost and broken world. We are a people raised to new life with Jesus. We can link arms with believers around the world and throughout the centuries because we are a people who can confidently say together, “Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ” (v.3).
Praise God for the wild, enduring miracle that is the body of Christ!
Leave a Reply
76 thoughts on "God’s Rich Blessings"
I keep getting drawn back to this idea that my God is the same God that Jesus loved and knew, that Paul loved and knew, that Rahab loved and knew, that my grandparents loved and knew that people all over the world love and know too. This is the SAME God, this is MY God, and what a God to know!
Thank you God for my strengthening faith and all those who share that faith x
!
❤️
❤️
As my pastor says, “major on the Majors, minor on the Minors.”
Jessica Lamb helped me so much! Thank you!!!
I love visiting New churches and meeting my spiritual family there… Instant connection. Shared foundation in loving Christ
Happy Monday shes, I love the church. My first experience was in a very vibrant Pentecostal church in Toronto (Scarborough to be exact), where the pastor spoke in tongues (and for the longest time I thought he was speaking Aramaic, much later I dared to summon my courage to ask a lady next to me what he was saying, and she said it’s tongues- lol- I missed him so much, pastor Bob with his white hair from Global Kingdom Ministries). I was baptized there after graduating college, and I would never forget that church. So many good memories, even though I walked in there, almost not knowing anyone, I got to join the dream interpretation class which I thought was so cool. I have moved away and joined other churches since then, but the first church always has such a special place. The missions of churches are indeed so different ( different members of the body indeed as the Bible hints). Some are really outreach oriented, some are more focused on teachings, some are heavy on spiritual gifts with specifics, but the Lord knows where to take us, to train us in righteousness. I am thankful for the churches and the experiences the Lord has blessed me with, good or bad. Our trials are never wasted. Lifting you shes up in prayers. May the Lord bless you with a great week! Be blessed dear sisters.
❤️
Indiana Elayne, praying for your surgery ! Mari V praying for Alyssa and all the other students starting/ returning to school.
Thank you!❤️
I liked reading about the different types of churches Jessica described in her devotion today. It reminded me of when my husband and I were members of a small church plant. After losing its lease when the warehouse where we met due to a change in ownership, we ended up meeting in a roller rink – an operating one! We brought chairs and set them up on the rink every Sunday morning. As we were leaving after services, folks were coming in for the first skating session of the day. I have to say that some of the most Spirit filled services I remember took place in that roller rink church. We made many lifelong friends at that church. Unfortunately, the church did not survive, but many of the families from there ended up at a church of over 1000 in a beautiful church building on a lake setting. Quite the change! God was present in both those churches. It doesn’t matter where the church meets, the order of service, or the size of the group, God can do miraculous things anywhere. “Where two or more are gathered in my name there I am also.” (
Todays words and devotions remind me of a worship song we used to sing
“ I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God, I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood. joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod …”
The fellowship is like the oil running down the beard..
I remember that song! Thank you for sharing!
Jessica’s Devo this morning touched my heart. I recently had surgery that kept me away from church for three weeks. I returned to worship yesterday and was warmly welcomed by so many friends and worshippers. It was wonderful to be back. We sometimes forget how much we need this fellowship and to worship in the body of Christ!
My pastor belongs to the ministerial association in my small city and their regular meeting and praying together has has had a positive effect on the citywide community of faith!
We are one in the Spirit and one in the Lord!
Praise God!
Also, please pray as it’s my daughter Alyssa’s first day of college, Thankfully, here at our local college, but she has a very full schedule.
❤
On HRT, Russ Ramsey uses an analogy of playing hide and seek… This is some of his thoughts…
our God has come looking for us. God doesn’t just rescue us to give us a second chance. He saves us from spiritual death and then gives us a new identity: adopted children. God has taken our game of hide-and-seek and turned it into a game of sardines. When Paul said we’re adopted through Jesus Christ, he’s telling us Jesus didn’t just find us; He came to where we were hiding and hid with us in such a way that you and I would never be found alone again. To find us now would be to find us together with our big brother.
If this is all true, what else is there to do but praise Him? Praise God for the sake of the means by which He has done all of this. He has given us His Son, that our lives might be hidden in His.
Have a good day and week, SRT sisters!
Eph 1:9 Gods will has a purpose for both heaven and earth. This is a fantastic perspective to have. Things that we (as individuals and as the church) do here in our day to day- has an impact on heaven. I don’t think we will understand this fully until we see what God has prepared for us for eternity.
My husband and I visited the church he and his late wife attended when she was battling cancer. (In a town about an hour north of where we live ). “Our” daughter (my bonus daughter) and her husband and kids attended with us. The pastor has been there about a year, but he was sent out from the church my husband and I currently attend. It was such a beautiful day, worshipping with believers that we have never met, yet knowing we will spend eternity with them.
Verse of the day-Biblegateway (fits well with the devo)
Romans 12:4-5 NLT
Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
~
v. 13b-14
And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.
14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.
~
I am thankful and excited to be here with you ladies as we PRAISE and GLORIFY Him!
~
Father, help us to set aside all distractions/stumbling blocks as we spend time in Your Word so that we don’t miss anything You have for us. Our earthly relationships come second to you in priority, but they sure have the power to usurp our thoughts and intentions. Please, please guide us in dealing with these issues. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
This group is such a beautiful example of the church! We are all from different backgrounds, different ages, stages of life, going through different struggles, married, single, have no children, have children or adult children, taking care of parents or ours are in heaven- yet we can come together, pray for each other, learn more about God and His word and encourage each other! This is what God desires! So thankful for all of you and praying for all of you. May God bless you, and keep you, make His shine upon you, make your feet like deer’s feet as you w as ok the path He has laid out for you today! May He give you wisdom and guidance throughout this day and week. May all of your thoughts and words be sifted through the Holy Spirit who abides in you! In Jesus name!
❤
Thank you Cheryl! Beautiful prayer for this Monday ❤️
Cheryl, I was thinking the very same thing! It’s such a wonderful thing to have Jesus our Savior in common! Thank you for the beautiful prayer, too.
Good morning SRT. I’ve been reading along with you for many years and enjoy reading your comments. I am well aware that this is a praying community and I have joined you in those prayers for the many needs. I would like to ask for your prayers. I am having knee replacement surgery on Wednesday. This is a stretch for me as I am 80 years old and not had any surgeries except tonsils at 4 years old. I have made a playlist of the many songs that you all suggested during our Corinthians study. My strength will come from the Lord. Thank you.
Praying for you, your recovery, and your surgical team. Let us know how you are doing!
Thank you!❤️
Praying for you!Trusting and believing God has placed you in the competent hands of your surgeon and medical team. Praying for a speedy recovery as well.
Thank you! ❤️
Praying for a successful knee placement, with minimal pain and maximum recover. Lifting you and your doctors up in prayer.
Thank you!❤️
ELAINE, what a brave lady you are! I am 70 and, like you, report tonsillectomy only, so I can understand the uncertainty! Prayers for the medical team-success; for you – peace of mind, uneventful recovery, patience with yourself/progress in recovery. Thank you for sharing your need with us and please keep us posted! ❤❤
Thank you!❤️
Praying you have a great recovery. My husband had one a year ago at 77 and did very well. He was actually driving in 3 weeks to his PT appts.
Thank you!❤️
Indiana Elaine, I’m praying your knee replacement goes well and that your recovery is smooth. I love it that you made a playlist of songs recommended from our SRT sisters.
Thank you!❤️. I have over 20 songs!!
Praying for a smooth surgery and quick recovery! Praying for peace for you and guidance for your surgeons. God Bless You ❤️
Thank you!❤️
Oh my goodness, I am blown away by you kindness, encouragement and prayers. It brought tears. This is truly a picture of the family of God. Thank you so much, sisters!!❤️
❤
Dear Indiana Elaine
You can’t begin to count the number of prayers coming your way!
God, we invoke your precious name amidst the medical & support team attending to our Sister She, from surgery through recovery.
And all that may follow for her & her loved ones.
Keep her heart brave & faith strong.
Thank you!❤️
Praying! I know it will be successful and it will feel like a new knee!!
Wow, it’s interesting that the author of this devotional saw unity of the body as a major theme in these passages. I didn’t really pick that up, but I am grateful for what she wrote “our shared faith is more essential than our differences.”
I was hosting a friend the other day who was visiting and I was disappointed because we got in a discussion about prophecy and I didn’t realize we had such varying opinions about the subject. She knows my story better than a lot of people, so I was shocked after so many years of knowing each other, we could think so differently about the gift of prophecy. I think the Lord is reminding me through this devotional not to get so caught up in that difference and continue to be thankful for our shared faith in Jesus. That is the main thing. Lord God, forgive for focusing too much on our differences and help me to be a friend who loves at all times! Thank you for friendships and this community that are founded on You, Jesus. ❤️ happy new week and happy back to school to anyone starting classes today (student, admins, teachers, staff, etc) ❤️
I agree Michelle that I didn’t pick that up from the scripture reading today. I too have a dear friend that we frequently share prayers and stories of faith. We have been friends for 25 years. In the past, I would occasionally question her faith on certain topics. I have learned so much through these teachings of Paul and many prayers, that is is not my job to judge her faith, her, or her beliefs. We are all one in Christ Jesus. Glory be to God! I have never shared that with her, but God has opened my eyes to this and I will be forever grateful. It also helps during this very charged political time.
Amen, thank you for sharing! It is is a good word for the time we are in especially, you’re right!
It doesn’t matter “how” we got here, the important thing is that “we” are here as “one” church. I am forever grateful to my friend Gretchen who introduced me to SRT. I love you all SO much and can’t wait to meet you all someday! I was raised Catholic and I still hold dear to some of my childhood memories of catechism and beautiful music during mass. I was 17 year-old when I staring going to youth group that a friend’s mom started in the Catholic Church because she knew she was “called” and I started to learn about the love of Jesus, and one day on Cinco de Mayo 1984, I went to a youth conference and accepted JESUS as MY Lord and Savior!! I will NEVER forget that day!
Happy Monday sweet she’s!
♥️
Had a wonderful day yesterday of worship and fellowship with our body of Christ – Praise God!
_____________
Two of the verses that most stuck out to me today were Ephesians 1:11-12. We are were not just chosen and predestined – but it was according to His plan who works out everything with the purpose of His will. The end goal – the praise of His glory…that just resonated with me this morning.
____________
I will forever be grateful for the fact that we are sealed with the (powerful, almighty) Holy Spirit – until we go to be with Jesus! Nothing and no one can EVER take me out of the palm of His hand! Praise Jesus!!
___________
I wrote down a whole list of God’s rich blessings from today’s reading. May it remind me daily of how blessed and rich I am!
_____________
Continued prayers for each of you my dear sisters. Have a blessed Monday!❤️
Please pray for our group of 10 churches. God is blessing us with resources to meet needs in my community; however, I need volunteers to help take some of the load. Please pray that God gives me discernment of what is mine to carry and what is not also that I stay in his will and not try to get ahead of him. Thanks so much, ladies!
I’m excited for Ephesians. It was the first Bible study I did as an adult with other ladies in my church at that time. It holds a special place in my heart because it opened my eyes to studying the Word!
I love. Love. LOVE. how we are all here together, reading the same passages!
.
We are His children, sweet sisters. He loves us. He saves us. He seals us.
.
Isn’t that grand? Ahhhhhhhh…
❤️
AMEN!! ❤️
Wow. I can’t believe how this devotional perfectly sums up my thoughts from the weekend, God is so cool! I was blessed to spend this weekend with my sister in law who recently returned to faith through the Catholic Church. I know nothing about Catholicism except the critiques from my baptist upbringing. I went to mass with her for the first time, and just was mind blown by how different the service was to mine, and then everyone in the room started reciting what I would call a believers prayer, idk what they call it, and my eyes got teary, hearing everyone profess the gospel and I just thought, this is it. It doesn’t matter that we don’t agree on every point, this is the body of Christ speaking the truth out loud. The experience gave us a lot of time to talk Jesus, and my heart was so full that despite our very different seasons in life, we have similar prayers, struggles, and questions. My heart is full to think of us two gals ” chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.” Praise God.
❤️
I am so happy about this study on Ephesians because this is the book that, thanks to an Army chaplain and a prayer he asked me to read every day during my last deployment, brought me to Christ.
Praise God for one who cared enough to get you in the Word! ❤️
Dear Maria
How wonderful is that?!
To Him … and the chaplain … him or her … give high fives!!!
The downpayment part really got me feeling. I am so eternally grateful for our Lord and Savior.
Woo-hoo for Ephesians, one of my favorites. “The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.” What a wonderful promise!
.
MARIA BAER – praying you have had peaceful sleep
.
AG – how is your friend’s newborn niece?
.
ROBIN BAILEY – did your coworker get her test results back?
.
SEARCHING – praying that the Rx continues to give you a little relief
Thank you for asking and for the prayers! They are one step in the right direction as of the weekend but still not out of the clear yet.
Amen! Thank you, Jesus! Amen
1 Peter 1:21 …and so your faith and hope are in God.
–
Amen!
–
As far as unification –
Lord, I pray you will show me what things to set aside and move on from, and what things should be brought up and discussed.
–
In other words, praying I won’t nitpick others about things that are of no importance in the big scheme of life … pause, take a deep breath and let the piddly things go.
–
RHONDA J – praying you’re rested and restored after that long ride.
Your unification prayer is perfect timing for a meeting I have tonight. I will be praying it all day.
How important and repetitive that prayer is in my life. Adding my amen. ❤❤
Praying for your recovery from pain! ❤
Up early this morning. I am excited to start Ephesians. I have always loved this book. I spent a lot of time praying this weekend. It was a rough week and a very rough Saturday with my husband. I was harboring a lot of bitterness and felt like I couldn’t forgive before I let him know how much he had hurt me. Wow. Not cool. I am not proud of that fact and I am grateful that God finally pulled me out of myself and I am in a better place and we are hopefully on a road to recovery. My prayers this week focused a lot on my family and my friends in person and all of you here online. It was a lot of walking and praying this weekend, pouring out requests. But finally I got to the end of my asking and realized I just needed to praise Him for who He is and what He has done for me and all of us. Yes, I am to bring my requests to Him, but even if…none of those requests are answered as I want, He is God and He has adopted me and given me eternal life through Jesus Christ His Son. How easily I forget the most wonderful thing and focus on the here and now and all the hurts and troubles right before me. Today I want to be a child who is grateful and thankful for God’s rich blessings in my life. Amen.
May the Lord give you peace after all the wrestling
Continuing to pray for you, your marriage and for your prodigal children. ❤️
❤
Oh Laura….I went through a similar situation, but with my mom. Praying for you, and please pray for me.
❤️
Amen and Hallelujah