Enriched!

"...in every thing ye are enriched by him..." ~ I Corinthians 1:5

Have you really thought about the fact that you are "enriched"? I've been thinking about this verse lately. It's posted on my fridge right now. If you stop and think about it, I think you'll be as thrilled as I am with all that it means! ...And I'm sure I haven't even scratched the surface in knowing all that it means!

"Enriched" is a great word that conjures up images of delight, contentment, joy, excitement... But the other words that keep standing out to me are "every thing." Every. Thing. 

This means that even the things that seem nasty, those things that bring me the opposite of joyful feelings--the very trials and testings, the very irritations and annoyances--are enriching my life in Christ!

His purpose is to conform me to the image of His Son (Romans 8:28-29). Paul conveys over and over in his epistles that it is a privilege--not a curse--to suffer. He lifts up Christ as our example: "When he was reviled, {he} reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not..." (I Peter 2:21-23). How? By committing Himself to Him Who is the only perfectly Righteous Judge--God, His Father! Jesus set the example of trusting in God Who keeps all the records and justly balances everything.

In that moment of aggravation, in that moment of tension, in that very moment of stress, if I will stop, look full into the wonderful face of Jesus, and--for real!--commit myself to His Father (my Father), the Righteous and Just Judge of the whole earth, peace will flood my soul. In that moment of surrender and yielding to whatever He is doing in my life through that irritation or negative experience, I can actually experience joy!

It helps me to remember that my Father God has a helicopter view of my entire life from conception to death. He knows the reason that I need this thorn in my flesh, for His glory and also for my ultimate good. Not only that, but He has a helicopter view of the entire history of the world--past, present, and future--and knowing that, He works ALL things together for good to them that love Him, those He has called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28)!

What a place of refuge! What a place to rest! Leaning on His everlasting arms that will never fail (Deuteronomy 33:27), that will never withhold from me anything that is good for me (Psalm 84:11), the arms that have never lost a victory (Joshua 1:3, Psalm 98:1)! I can trust Jesus! He loves me, and He takes care of me. 

Won't you choose to believe for today that you are enriched by Him in every thing?

Richly to Enjoy

The aroma of Starbucks coffee: Mmmm... There is no better way to start your day! Anytime I brew a pot of Starbucks—preferably Cafe Verona blend—I’m transported into a Starbucks cafe and to its accompanying ambience. I hear the slow, relaxing music and the whir of the espresso machines frothing the milk for cappuccino, and with my journal in hand I know my mind can rest here. It’s a place where I can be alone and still enjoy the feeling of people around me. When I go to Starbucks in the comfort of my home I am also teleported to the patio cafes of Europe, where I sat in awe of the beauty around me. The history of the buildings—if walls could talk! The myriad languages surrounding me... the glorious accent with which the server addresses me in English! The crunch and clank of feet on the cobblestones... the clatter of dishes inside the establishment...

I sat outside such a patio cafe in Amsterdam, savouring a Dutch cappuccino with one of my girlfriends, who loves the experience as much as I. We talked about how blessed we are. God truly has given us all things richly to enjoy! The Scripture is one we hear often. Don’t forget the beginning of that same verse: “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;” (I Timothy 6:17). The riches or enjoyable things in life are not sin. The wrong is in ones focus: trusting in riches, or making “things” everything in our lives. When our focus is on the gifts more than the Giver, we miss out on the real joy He intends. HE is the real source of all that is good in our lives.

So sit back, enjoy your Starbucks experience, and thank the One Who makes it all possible in your life.