Category: Ephesians

And 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 will have reached their fulfillment–to bring all things in heaven and on earth under one head, even Christ… (Ephesians 1:10).

I like my Study Bible.

It has all kinds of useful information in it.

For example, it tells me that the word Paul used here that is translated head has multiple meanings. It can mean “head,” as in, you know…your head.

It can mean “authority,” which is how I’ve always read this verse. God’s plan is for every knee to bow and every tongue to confess Jesus as Lord.

Amen to that!

The word can also refer to the sum of a column of figures, the reconciling of various numbers that may not seem to relate to one another.

So, Jesus makes a senseless world make sense.

Feeling like life is a little too random, Beloved? Seem like the equation doesn’t balance?

Fear not; in the end, it all adds up

to Him.

Happy Friday, Beloved

And 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 will have reached their fulfillment… (Ephesians 1:10).

God’s timing is not our timing.

How often have you heard that phrase, or something like it?

How often have you used it?

How frustrating has it been, every single time?

Look, I’m not saying that I know better than God, but if I could just get ten minutes alone with his calendar–

I’d probably ruin everything.

Beloved, we can trust God with the fate of all mankind.  His plan is perfect, his timing is precise, and his control is complete. And if we can trust God with the fate of all mankind,

can we not trust him with Today?

Hmmm?

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure… (Ephesians 1:9).

Pssst…

Let me let you in on a little secret–

You’re in on the big secret.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved

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(Ephesians 1:8).

Wise enough to know that we broken ones couldn’t possibly ever even for the tiniest fraction of a moment be good enough

or even want to be

unless he made the first move

and the second

and probably the third

understanding who we are

and who we could be

in him

with him

for him

through him

because of him

He knows, Beloved.

And he loves you.

Happy Tuesday

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…(Ephesians 1:8)

Lavish

To give freely, to bestow generously upon, to shower with

God has not been miserly with his grace, Beloved.

He has not been frugal.

He has lavished.

When the Lord of the Universe saw your sin, he didn’t hand you a spiritual wet wipe.

He bathed you.

Grace is, quite possibly, the most costly thing in all of creation, yet God showers us with it. He doesn’t measure it out and give us and give us a jarful, saying “Use it sparingly. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.”

He pours it over us in endless waves.

We determine the value of something by what someone is willing to pay to obtain it.

So, what is your value to God?

Exactly

Happy Monday, Beloved.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins…(Ephesians 1:7)

I am forgiven.

You know, I think that 97.38% of all therapists could be put out of business if folks truly understood and believed those three little words.

I am forgiven.

Yeah, Michael, but you don’t know the stuff I’ve–

You’re right. I don’t. But he does. And you are forgiven.

Well, it’s not that simple–

Actually, it is. You are forgiven. End of story.

Beginning of story

Happy Friday, Beloved.

In him we have redemption through his blood…(Ephesians 1:7)

When I was a kid, years before I came to Christ, I briefly attended a local church’s youth group. I remember singing this song:

I’ve been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.

I’ve been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.

I’ve been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, filled with the Holy Ghost I am.

All my sins are washed away, I’ve been redeemed.

There was a second verse…had something to do with roller skates. The point is, I had no idea what that song was talking about at the time, but the words and the silly tune stuck in my head.

Today I understand, at least a little.

There’s a pawn shop a mile or so from my house. Today, someone will go there and trade a prized possession for a little cash. The cash will soon be spent, the pleasure it bought dissipated, and the prized possession will be locked away, out of reach. The only hope is that Someone will come and pay the price to redeem that which is so precious, and which was so foolishly traded away.

You know what I like about you Beloved? I don’t have to explain my analogies.

Happy Thursday

In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons 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.(Ephesians 1:6).

In Christ

Not just with Christ–though definitely with Christ.

Not just because of Christ–though certainly because of Christ.

Not just through Christ–though that is the only way.

In Christ.

This grace the Father has given us is wrapped up in the person of Jesus.

Inextricable

I like that word–I’m gonna say it again.

Inextricable

Because grace, though not based upon our work, is in fact based upon work.

Christ’s

And grace comes only from the Father, and grace comes only in the Son.

So any who would desire grace without the cross, well, they’re missing the point.

And the boat

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will–to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us…(Ephesians 1:6).

Freely

Given

No strings, no fine print, no Columbo-style,”Uh, just one little thing…”

So how is it that we still, day after day, think we somehow have to earn this?

Are we not the silliest of creatures?

The feast is before you, Beloved. Dig in.

Happy Tuesday.

In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will–to the praise of his glorious grace… (Ephesians 1:6).

His glorious grace

I love the sound of those words, and not just because of the alliteration.

His grace–by its very nature I could never earn it, never deserve it, never demand it. His grace simply flows out of his love, out of his goodness, out of his very nature. His grace demonstrates to all who are willing to see what a mighty, merciful God he is.

His grace brings him glory.

Today promises to be a pretty stressful day for me. I plan to hold on to this passage. I am going to remind myself–probably multiple times–that I am his because of his glorious grace.

And I will praise him today.

Care to join me, Beloved?

Happy Monday.