Ephesians 1:3-14 (NRSV)
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Verse 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, Verse 4just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. Verse 5He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, Verse 6to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. Verse 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace Verse 8that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight Verse 9he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, Verse 10as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. Verse 11In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, Verse 12so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. Verse 13In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; Verse 14this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God's own people, to the praise of his glory.
Devotion
We don’t like to hear bad news. It seems, however, that our world is filled with bad news related to the weather, war, crime, drugs, family strife, unemployment and illness that strikes innocent people.
In our finite understanding, it’s often difficult to comprehend the mystery of God’s will, or to understand the leading of God’s way. It’s only when we remember that God has a plan for the fullness of time in order to gather up all things in him that it’s even possible to face the challenges that life sometimes has to offer.
We long for a vision like that of a beautiful tapestry, but often find ourselves living amidst the knots and loose ends on the tapestry’s other side. One day we will receive the good news of these words from Ephesians; an inheritance, abundance, riches, salvation, redemption and our hope in Christ for the praise of his glory.
Prayer
Wondrous God, who blesses us with so many blessings, lavish the riches of your grace on us and give us the good pleasure of knowing your plan for our lives in the fullness of time. In Jesus’ name. Amen.