Tag: redemption by His blood
God’s Amazing Plans!
Scripture reading for August 23rd: Ephesians 1, Psalm 19, Proverbs 15
Key Scriptures: Ephesians 1:5-10 “In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and on earth.”
God’s plans are amazing! The fact that He includes us in His plans is even more amazing! He lavishes on us His wisdom and purposes through the revelation of His Son, Jesus Christ. He is our redemption and through His shed blood we have forgiveness of sins freely given to all who repent. In Christ we are adopted as sons in God’s family and united with Him by His grace! The fullness of time will reveal the unfolding of these plans and nothing can stop them.
Faith confession: Thank You Lord for revealing Your amazing plans to me through Jesus Christ. In Him I have forgiveness of my sins and adoption into God’s family. I eagerly await the fullness of time!
Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
Eyes of the heart!
Scripture reading for August 25th: Ephesians 1
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:” (Ephesians 1:1)
Paul opened his letter to the Ephesian church by addressing them as ‘saints’, the ‘faithful in Christ Jesus.’ Paul always tried to help believers view themselves as Christ would–new creations made holy by the blood of their Savior! He emphasized their continued faithfulness to stay in Christ and proceeded to give them a beautiful description of their standing with Christ. They had been chosen by Him “before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.” (vs 4) They had also been adopted as God’s sons through Christ. (vs 5) They also had been given a knowledge of the ‘mystery of His will.’ (vs 9) They were also ‘marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.’ (vs 13)
Paul then recorded a prayer to help us to pray for continued understanding. “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:17-19a)
Believers have a second set of eyes given them–the ‘eyes of your heart.’ These eyes are opened through prayer and the infilling of the Holy Spirit. As God’s Word is allowed access, the Spirit brings light to our inner man and our faith expands to give purpose and meaning to each day. We can know Christ and His provision for us!