Daily Bible Thought > What Type of Blessings?
God does not condemn us when we approach Him in prayer, why? Because those in Christ Jesus have no condemnation.
Rom.8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.{NU omits "who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit"}
They have no condemnation because they are under a new law of love, love is about giving, not taking just as Jehovah/Yahweh gives not only to the righteous, but also the unrighteous, and the wicked.
Thus, we ask, “ let your will take place”, not our will, why because we should be unselfish in our love for God. Christ Jesus whom set the pattern of suffering and being faithful to his Father by unselfish love towards Him, died penniless. He had no place to lay his head, and would be rejected by this crooked and adulterous generation that is found to be just the opposite in these last days.
1Tim.3:1 But know this, that in the last days, grievous times will come.
3:2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3:3 without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, 3:4 traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; 3:5 holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof. Turn away from these, also.
The flesh is selfish and demands material things from God as proof of his love towards us promoted by most religions, rather than us proving our love for God despite a lack of material things because Satan in the god of system of things. Moreover, Christ Jesus showed Satan has the power to bless his own with material things, in offered all the kingdom(s) of the earth to Jesus Christ.
Receiving the life of Christ in a person also sets them up as a target for Satan wrath, one should not be confused over their suffering, or Satan depriving them of material things causing ones to blame the God who only gives good gifts to His children.
God does not distrust his children nor deprive them of material things, moreover, in their trials He blesses them abundantly in spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit reassuring them of His love while suffering on earth as Christ Jesus himself suffered.
Rev.2:9 "I know your works, oppression, and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 2:10 Don't be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life.
daniel a slave of Christ Jesus
Eph.1:7 in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.
Many Christian today seek material blessings in serving Christ Jesus, yet, the riches of our faith are found in one profound gift, which is God's grace, or as some translation render it undeserved kindness; without this key we live in disqualification seeking glory through blessings translated into worldly success, that is, material things.
The Apostle Paul here was addressing just such a misconception for the Ephesian brothers and sisters, although their treasures were hidden from
human eyes, they were nevertheless far greater. Maintaining grace is our challenge as Christians, why because everything in this world is out of self-will, self-help, and self-reliance, which is diametrically opposed to grace. Grace or undeserved kindness cannot be earned through our best effort, nor can it be coerced through God's justice, in other words, we cannot state: “God you are not fair you have given grace to someone else although they have done far less in the way of goodness”.
Moreover, this is why some translation render grace as undeserved kindness, something undeserved cannot be deserved. Undeserved implies humility and lowliness of mind on our part as something so precious that we are in a constant state of thankfulness to its giver. When these factors are missing in us we seek glory through self and our treasures are in dissatisfaction for material blessings in missing the grace of God's riches too us. This faith will be the faith Christ Jesus is looking for when he comes.