Our Standing in Christ

I have to admit that I have a tendency to get depressed about things, and get focused on my weaknesses, sinfulness, and regrets and the loss of our daughter. It's a battle sometimes to force myself through the fog to reach out to God, hear the truth and focus on Him and what He says about me. I'm sure there are others who struggle with the same thing.

I forced myself to pick up my devotional book this morning and to my amazement my present predicament was addressed so clearly.

Here is what I read, from Charles Spurgeon's Morning by Morning Based on Ephesians 1:6 although I would suggest reading from verse 3-14



What a state of privilege! It includes our justification before God, but the term "blessed" in the Greek means more that that. It signifies that we are objects of divine satisfaction, even of divine delight.

How marvelous that we - worms, mortals, sinners- should be made the objects of divine love!

But it is only "In the Beloved".

Some christians seem to be accpted in their own experience-at least that is their apprehension.

When their spirit is lively and their hopes are bright they think God accepts them , for they feelso high, so heavenly minded, so drawn above the earth. But when their souls cleave to dust, they are the victims of fear that they are no longer accepted. If they could only see that all their high joys do not exalt them, and all their low despondencies do not really depress them in their Father's sight, but that they stand accepted in One who never alters. This One is always the beloved of God, always perfect, always without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. How much happier they woukld be and how mjuch more they wwwwwould honor the Savior if they could grasp Him! Rejoice then , believer, in this: You are blessed "In the Beloved"

You look within and say,"There is nothing acceptable here." But look at Christ and see if everything is not acceptable there. Your sins trouble you; but God has cast your sinsbehind his back, and you are accepted and blessed in the Righteous One. YOu have to fight with corruption and wrestle with temptaion but you are already accepted in Him who has overcome the powers of evil. The devil tempts you, but be of good cheer- he cannot destroy you, you are accepted in Him whohas broken Satan's head. Know by full assurance your glorious standing. Even glorified souls are no more accepted than you are. They are only blessed in heaven "in the Beloved" and you are even now blessed in Christ after the same manner.



What glorious freedom we have in Christ. I thank Him for truth that sets us free.
As C S Lewis says " " If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth.." How true.