In Christ! Meditations for Thanksgiving

Are you looking for reasons to be thankful this year? Have the past few months been so difficult that you are having a hard time believing you can do as Paul says and “be thankful in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)?

Here’s an idea. Open your Bible to the epistle to the Ephesians, and take note of all the benefits and blessing that are ours because we are “in Christ”. 

Just mark every time you see the words “in Christ,” “in Christ Jesus,” or “in Him.” I promise you will come away feeling blessed. I’ve started you off by listing just a few from the first chapter. In Ephesians 1 we are:

Identified as faithful holy people: “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus” (verse 1)

Blessed with every spiritual blessing: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (verse 3)

Chosen in Him before the world was created: “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight” (verse 4)

Redeemed and forgiven: “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” (verse 7)

Aware of God’s plans for our future: “With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good please, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ” (verses 8-10)

Chosen!: “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will” (verse 11)

Hopeful!: “in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory” (verse 12)

Included!: “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation” (verse 13)

Marked and sealed!: “When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit” (verses 13-14) 

Again, that’s just a few things from Chapter 1. Continue through the rest of the epistle to find even more things for which we can—and should—be grateful, not just at Thanksgiving but every day.