Ephesians 1:3-14
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. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, 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.
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, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
Devotion
Yesterday we discovered that the forgiveness of sins and God’s grace are two of the wonderful spiritual blessings that God bestows upon His spiritual children. In verses nine and ten, we discover another one of the spiritual blessings Paul alludes to in verse three. “He made known to us the mystery of His will.” Here Paul refers to the fact that God chooses to reveal Himself and His will “according to His good pleasure that He purposed in Christ.” The mystery Paul refers to here involves the fulfillment of God’s plan to “bring everything together in Christ.” The Old Testament pointed to the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world. The Jews misunderstood the nature of Christ’s first advent. Therefore, they missed the significance of His first coming.
So, God revealed Himself in human form. He came in the form of Jesus to redeem fallen humanity. This was His plan from the beginning. In Genesis 3:15, God speaks to Satan, “I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike His heel.” In this verse, we find the first mention of the Gospel. It is here that God promises to send the Serpent Crusher who would defeat Satan and reconcile mankind back to God. Even in the early chapters of the Bible, God is revealing Himself and His plan of redemption for mankind.
You see, God wants us to know Him! He wants us to know the lengths He would go to “buy us back” from our fallen state. One of the greatest blessings we find in Scripture is that God is constantly revealing Himself by the Holy Spirit through prayer, Scripture, circumstances, and other people. God is not done revealing Himself to us. Jesus promised that He would one day return (second advent). When the time is right, Jesus will return to set up His kingdom here on earth. When he sets up His kingdom here on earth, this will be the fulfillment and finalization of God’s redemptive plan. Biblical scholar, F.F. Bruce, summarizes it this way: “When all the times and seasons which the Father has fixed by His own authority have run their course, God’s age-long purpose which He planned in Christ will attain its full fruition.” Oh, what a day that will be!
Questions to Ponder
How is God revealing Himself to you today? Jesus promised He would return to set up His kingdom here on earth. Are you looking forward to the fulfillment of this divine promise? If not, why not? How does it make you feel to know that the God of creation desires an intimate relationship with you?
Prayer Points
- Reveal Yourself to me today, LORD. I want to know You better. Cause my weak heart to be wide open to You today.
- Love on me, my sweet Savior and Best Friend. Tell me again how You are for me. Remind me even now how You are with me and even reside in me by Your Holy Spirit. Oh, I praise You, Yahweh, that You will never leave me nor forsake me.
- Give to me and Your church a greater capacity in our hearts and lives to receive You and love on You and those around us. Glorify Your Son in and through me. I ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Suggested Prayer
King of Glory, how You love me, and oh, how You love us, Your church. I worship You as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Thank You, Lord, that You have everything You need, and yet You desire relationship with me and those You created in Your image. Thank You for knowing me so well, even my thoughts You know. Oh LORD, help me and our Oak Pointe Church family to rest in the center of Your extravagant and faithful love. Cause us to burn for You and lead us out by Your Holy Spirit to share Your love with those we meet around us. We need Your help, Lord, for You see we get easily distracted. So, come and fill us up with Your Holy Spirit. I ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.