SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 1:1-14
OBSERVATION:
God has lavished every spiritual blessing on us, true and lasting (heavenly) blessings. Although they are ours in principle, in practice we have received the Spirit as a deposit, the guarantee of the fullness that is ‘in the bank’ for us.
Paul stresses God’s side of this blessing, He called us to this blessing before the creation of the world, He prepared this plan and purpose for us before we even existed. All the details of God’s plan are worked out according to His pleasure and will.
The simple plan (the mystery of God’s will) is to united the fractured family under one person, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the way to unity, harmony and peace for every person, family, culture, tribe, nation, community, group, religion.
APPLICATION:
Apparently I am spiritually rich, though for now I only have a deposit of the full blessing. Am I aware of this, do I appreciate this? What are these spiritual blessings, do I value them more than temporal delights?
‘Chosen’ (lit. ‘called’) raises the Election debate. Do we chose God (and therefore receive salvation) or does God chose us (not all, those chosen end up believing). A big debate, one that touches a profound mystery, the Bible seems to say ‘yes’ to both sides. I feel it is better to affirm the tension rather than to try and explain it, it is like ‘trinity’!
Jesus was culturally Jewish, but He transcended that narrow beginning and is a man for all peoples. He did not come to form another religion, He by-passed His cultural religion and calls all people, faiths, etc to unite under Him. I do Not serve Christianity, I serve Jesus Christ, the way for all cultural religions (including western Christianity) to be restored to God.
PRAYER:
Lord, forgive me for delighting in trinkets and ignoring Your treasures. Help me to experience and enjoy the mystery of Your grace and Your plan, and to invite others to unite under You! Amen.
Paul called the Christians in the church in Ephesus saints. It was God’s choice to separate His children from sin and be made holy by His Spirit. It is by His rich grace that He called us His children and adopted us by faith in Christ Jesus. These children need ro declare the praises due to their Father.
There is much here I do not understand, but this I know. Since I believe in Jesus Christ as my Saviour, I am marked for life by the Spirit who is my guarantee that I am His – a child of the King. I need to be a Kingdom builder each day giving Him the praises in all I do and say. Lord, help me to live a life of praise to Your Glory. Continue to work in me by Your Spirit.