Thanksgiving for Spiritual Blessings “Nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all people life and breath and all things.” ~ (Acts 17:25)

Acts 17:25 attests that God himself gives life and breath to all people and ..all things. He gives us temporal blessings such as food, drink, and clothing: “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” (Matthew 6:32). He gives us temporal blessings to sustain life: “So that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45).

To some he also gives spiritual blessings: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). “We received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God” (1 Corinthians 2:12). “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Peter received a wonderful spiritual blessing when God revealed a great truth to him: “Simon Peter answered, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus said to him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:16, 17).

Our heavenly Father gives us spiritual blessings so that he may have a special relationship with us, and we with him. He says: “And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me” (2 Corinthians 6:18). John tells us that we who have received God’s spiritual blessings are children of God (1 John 3:2). God, speaking of Israel as his children, says: “But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, and he who formed you, O Israel, Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you” (Isaiah 43:1,2). Just as God provided for the temporal needs of the children of Israel, he provides for all of our spiritual needs. And for these, we should be thankful.

Peace and Joy,

Jojo Carpio

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