A blessed Wednesday morning to you, my friend! Isn’t our God good for giving us another day? Yes He is!
Read Ephesians 1:1 -14.
Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus was written while he was imprisoned in Rome. Ephesians is one of four “prison epistles” penned by Paul; the others are Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. It is fascinating to consider the very idea of “prison epistles” in the current context of “lockdowns” and closures and travel restrictions. Despite being literally locked-up, Paul found a way to preach the Gospel and to encourage Believers! For Paul, being in prison was no barrier and no excuse. Brothers, let each of us take a page out of Paul’s playbook – let’s do what we can to build God’s Kingdom, despite having to deal with social distancing and viral mania.
So, let us examine today’s passage. Each of us, as Believers, should rejoice in and embrace these words – they read like a list of “member’s benefits” that we have received through the redemptive work of Jesus. Benefits like:
(vv 3) – being blessed with “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ”
(vv 4) – through Him, we each are made “holy and without blame before Him in love”
(vv 5) – because of Jesus we have received “adoption as sons”
(vv 6) – and, He has “made us accepted in the Beloved”
(vv 7) – “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace”
(vv 9) – He has revealed to all of us “the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself”
(vv 10) – when “the fullness of the times” assuredly comes, He will gather us all, “both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.”
(vv 11) – “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance”
(vv 13) – because you have believed and have trusted Him, “you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise”
(vv 14) – Christ alone “is the guarantee of our inheritance”
What an awesome list! Blessing and surety and acceptance and adoption and holiness and knowledge – and it all comes with a guarantee! And the guarantor is no less than He who shall (Isaiah 9) “be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”.
My friend, take heart! You are the recipient of all of His benefits and blessings, and they are available to you today!
Lord Jesus, thank You for the benefits, the fullness of life, that You came to bring me! I receive them all. Lord, help me to walk confidently in Your power today, appropriating all that You have given me, so that I can bring glory to Your Name! Amen!