Beloved in Christ Jesus
As a vicar of St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Ras Al Khaimah, I consider this as an opportunity to communicate one of the Biblical truths to all those who curiously search this website to know more about our church.
This truth is specified in the scripture, of God the Father’s master plan and purpose in human’s life, particularly in the life of Christians.
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed and worthy of praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. സ്വർഗ്ഗത്തിലെ സകല ആത്മികാനുഗ്രഹത്താലും നമ്മെ ക്രിസ്തുവിൽ അനുഗ്രഹിച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന നമ്മുടെ കർത്താവായ യേശുക്രിസ്തുവിന്റെ ദൈവവും പിതാവുമായവൻ വാഴ്ത്തപ്പെട്ടവൻ.
The Holy Spirit clearly speaks through Apostle Paul saying God the Father has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in and through Jesus Christ. പിതാവായ ദൈവം യേശുക്രിസ്‌തുവിൽ and യേശുക്രിസ്‌തു മുഖാന്തരം സ്വർഗത്തിലെ സകല ആത്മീക അനുഗ്രഹങ്ങൾകൊണ്ട് നമ്മെ (Believers) അനുഗ്രഹിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു.
Yet in this 21st century, majority of Christians, come to Jesus Christ and believe in Him for earthly blessings or material blessings as Israelites did in the Old Testament. They seek such delights eagerly by running from one church to another, from one group to another group and travelling from one place to another. Because they do not know the superiority of the New Covenant, established by the blood of Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 8:5-13; 10:1-4)
In the Old Testament, Israelites were the people chosen and called out by God the Father. He offered them an opportunity to become the model nation by keeping His words. He blessed the nation of Israel abundantly so that they could be a blessing to other nations. (Deuteronomy 7:7-8; 9:6)
How God blessed the nation of Israel? God blessed them by giving them a land flowing with milk and honey, a fertile land. God blessed them with children, blessed them with cattle and sheep, blessed them with good physical health, blesse them by giving them victory over their physical enemies and blessed them by giving them good harvest. These are all material, earthly, temporal and monitory blessings. Those blessings followed them according to their obedience to God’s commandments. The more they obeyed God, the more earthly blessings, riches and prosperity they received.
But the whole thing turned into something better when Jesus came to earth. Ephesians 1:3 says He has blessed us (Christians) with every single spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. What wonderful blessings are there in the presence of God Almighty, the blessings that are in God Himself, the blessings that are in heaven, everything given to us in Christ Jesus.
Blessings of salvation from sin, blessings of forgiveness of sins, blessings of repentance, blessings of the Holy Spirit, blessing of 24X7 accessibility to God’s presence, blessings of His imparted holiness, righteousness and glory, blessing of the imparted life of Jesus Christ, the eternal life, blessings to have the rights to be the children of God, co-heirs with Jesus Christ and legal heirs of God’s kingdom, blessings of bearing the fruits of the Holy Spirit, blessings of His presence, blessings of His security, blessings of His peace, not the way the world gives, blessings of His Grace, Love and Mercy, blessings of the nature of God Jesus Christ, blessings of contentment etc….
Do you love heavenly riches more than earthly riches and blessings?
Answer to yourself honestly!
Today, many Christians live in guilt and condemnation, discouragement and gloom, anger and revengeful attitude because they seek more and more earthly blessings, physical riches, material prosperity and delights rather than the Spiritual blessings in Christ. Yes we can say worldly health is necessary but it is not absolute, it is nor everything. We worship it rather than God by thinking about it day and night.
If you resolved with all your heart that you will love and seek after heavenly riches more than earthly riches, you are a blessed person. You are walking on the right track. One day, when you stand before the Lord to receive your rewards, you are not going have any regrets.
Do you know why God has blessed you with all spiritual, heavenly blessing?
God has a plan or a purpose in our life
That purpose is revealed in Romans 8:29 For those whom He foreknew (loved and chosen beforehand) He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son (ultimately share His own sanctification) so that He would be the first born (the most beloved and honoured) among many believers.
“അവൻ മുന്നറിഞ്ഞവരെ തന്റെ പുത്രൻ അനേകം സഹോദരന്മാരിൽ ആദ്യജാതൻ ആകേണ്ടതിന്നു അവന്റെ സ്വരൂപത്തോടു അനുരൂപരാകുവാൻ മുന്നിയമിച്ചുമിരിക്കുന്നു.”
ആദ്യജാതനായവന്റെ സ്വരൂപത്തോടു അനുരൂപരാഗുവാൻ. The ultimate goal of God’s blessings, the decisive purpose of His call and selection, the key aspiration for sending His Son to the world and the significant objective of establishing the New Covenant is to conform each and every one of us (believers) to the likeness of Christ Jesus.
God’s blessings are not just about going to heaven or living a rich luxurious life on earth nor enjoying a good health. Sometimes God will make us sick if that is going to make us more like Jesus, He will make poor if that is going to make us more like Jesus. He will allow us to go through hardships and sufferings if that is going to conform us to the likeness of Jesus Christ. Sometimes God allows His children to face financial struggle, shortage of money, He makes you to depend upon Him. He allowed His only Son Jesus Christ to experience all these things though Jesus enjoyed a good health, (Hebrews 5:8). God doesn’t do anything without purpose and if we are Christians, we will understand His purpose better. Romans 8:28 And we know
(with great confidence) that God (who is deeply concerned about us) causes all thigs to work together (as per His plan) for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.
If you believe that Jesus Christ is greater than anyone in the whole creation and all authority and powers are in His hands, then the Holy Spirit will lift you up. God will give you enough for your need. Too much of running after material blessings will destroy you and you need to be thankful to God for His control and loving plan for our lives.
One day we are going to leave this place for ever, today we are here on this earth to accomplish the only purpose of God the creator and that is to conform to the likeness of Jesus Christ.
May God bless us all.
Rev. MANJUNATH SUNDER R.