Journey into Lightl

Last week we discussed how rich we are but often live like it’s not true. Why does this happen? Probably the biggest reason is that we are ignorant about the great things that God has done for us. As a result, we continue to live in poverty.

We also discussed that God has to be the one who enables us to realize how rich we are and to live rich. However, God requires us to cooperate with him in order for him to reveal and make practical the riches he has given us.

Why We Are Rich

We are rich because, in God’s eyes we are always

• Deeply loved
• Totally accepted
• Precious

God also

• Showers us with mercy and favor

• Gives insight into his thinking

• Gives us life forever with him

Living in these riches means that

• We don’t have to please everybody because God totally accepts us.

• It’s okay to be us because we are precious to God just the way we are.

• We’re important and don’t need to perform well to be important.

• The future is bright because our loving Father controls it.

• We can know God intimately because he longs to reveal himself to us.

• We look forward to heaven with great anticipation.

Cooperating with God

God is the one who enables us to understand and to live richly. However, we cooperate by asking God for understanding and wisdom (Ephesians 1:16-19).

Another way we cooperate is by knowing the Bible. The Bible tells us how rich we are and how we can live in this reality. It teaches, reproves, corrects, and trains us (2 Timothy 3:16). Following it helps us to avoid trying to become rich through our own efforts, which is unnecessary and futile.

We also cooperate by identifying false beliefs about how poor we are and learn to embrace the truth of our riches. We do this by relying on the Holy Spirit to teach and empower our efforts (Ephesians 4:22-24).

A fourth way we cooperate is to cultivate the habit of responding to the truth that we hear and study. Responding is what makes spiritual giants. Letting truth go by without acting upon it is what hardens our hearts (James 1:22). It makes us live like paupers instead of royalty.

May we be encouraged to discover how rich we are and to live in this reality. Let’s rest in the riches of having been given everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3, paraphrased).