Freedom is Good News Part 157

What is it that you desire to have from God?  Has He not already given you all things?  Paul puts it this way in the book of Romans 8:32, “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all – how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?”  In other words, the sacrifice of the Son of God to save us from our sins and to redeem us unto salvation and life eternal is the greatest gift that God the Father could have ever given to mankind.  So, if He gave us the greatest gift, why wouldn’t He also give us every lesser gift?

In his letter to the Church in Ephesus, Paul says it this way, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”  And if you don’t believe Paul, Peter says in his second letter, 2 Peter1:3, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and goodness.”

So, what is it that you desire to have from God?  If it is just for this physical life that you exist, consider that God has blessed you with everything you need to survive – air to breathe, water and food to sustain you, and a body more miraculous than any machine that can be built by man and the five senses with which to experience and learn about this world – yes, even more, the universe.  He has placed us in an awesome setting.

But you and I want more.  We want a spiritual life that reaches unto the heavenly realms.  And guess what?  God has blessed us there also!!  But there are so few of us (yes, even us Christians) who will accept and use these gifts, these free gifts from our Father in heaven. 

What gifts do we have?  Well let’s start with an obvious one – the bible.  God did not just plop us down here on earth to fend for ourselves.  We are His children and we need help to guide us on our way.  But again, how many of us accept this gift of His word and use it to help us.  The bible is a fulfillment of Peter’s statement that He “has given us everything we need for life and godliness”.  Do you want to live a better physical life on this planet?  The book of Proverbs is for you.  In it are found practical statements on how to attain wisdom, discipline, understanding, prudence, knowledge, discretion and discernment.  You can learn how to manage your finances, manage your speech, manage your work ethic – how to control your temper, how to teach your children and even how to listen to your elders and be taught by them.  It truly is an incredible book.  But, do you know what I desire from my Heavenly Father?  Knowing all that I have already mentioned, I desire to draw nearer to Him in a one to one relationship that goes far beyond anything that I can attain to here on earth!!  I desire a close relationship with God.  And if you are following me from our previous article, let me simply say that I know of no better way to achieve that perfect and sustaining relationship then to keep the appointed times of my God.  It is during these times of putting the world at arm’s length, getting out of my day to day routine and spending time with my Father and with others who feel as I do, that my relationship with Him grows.  And because these special times come around each year, I develop a closeness that could not be found at any other time.  The festivals are times of real spiritual growth, especially the Feast of Tabernacles!

There is still more to come.