In Touch - April 23, 2006

In Touch Daily Devotional 
by Dr. Charles Stanley

Sunday April 23, 2006

Blessings of God

Ephesians 1:3-14

How many times have you thought: "I wish God would bless me"? Maybe those words came to you when you were asking God to answer a specific prayer or when you sensed some type of adversity approaching. There are many different ways to receive God’s blessings, but most often we think of it from a material sense. The people that followed Jesus did the same thing.

After feeding the 5,000, Jesus exposed this materialistic attitude: "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled" (John 6:26). Many followed the Lord in order to receive "something." Their eyes were set on seeing miracles and material provisions. But Jesus wanted them to see Him as the Bread of Life in whom all their needs would be met.

The greatest of all God’s blessings has nothing to do with material wealth and social position, and everything to do with the closeness of His presence. This is why He instructed His disciples by saying, "Seek me first… and all these things will be added to you."

Are your eyes set on the Savior because of what He provides or because you love Him? The test of true love is this – abiding with the One you love regardless of anything else. Learn to love Him and Him alone; then all your cares will be satisfied.

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