Devotions on Ephesians 1:3-11

Read Ephesians 1:3-11

"(3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, (4) just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love (5) He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, (6) to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. (7) In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace (8) which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight (9) He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him (10) with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him (11) also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will," [Ephesians 1:3-11 NASB]

What truths are set forth in this passage?

What feelings do you feel when you read this passage?

What questions come to your mind when you read this passage?

How could you use this passage in a practical way in your life?  

Pray the passage back to God.

Meditation on Ephesians 1:3-14

Lord, I desire YOU to be glorified, seen as YOU really are fully appreciated in my life and in the life of YOUR people universally.  Make of us a community that worships YOU in spirit and truth.  I desire YOU to be pleased by seeing YOUR work in us.  

YOU Infinite ONE, dwell in eternity and also in our hearts.  How great YOU are!

IN the Messiah Jesus, YOU have poured out good upon us freely that we do not deserve.  Giving to us every spiritual treasure and good thing that any creature could desire from YOU.   YOU have put us in the Kingdom of heaven having chosen us in eternity to become separated to YOU in an intimate relationship in which we reflect YOUR goodness fully and are without flaw in how we reflect YOUR image. 

LORD, I thank YOU for such a great gift.  It is hard for me to understand how YOU were thinking of me and planning for me before I even existed.  I have forever been an object of YOUR interest, concern, and love.  YOU are radically and forever for me.  

LORD of Love and Promises, in choosing us eternally YOU have adopted us as your dearly beloved children in the Messiah Jesus.  The sonship of the LORD Jesus, HE now has shared with us as now we are YOUR sons as well.  All of our blessings come to us in the beloved LORD Jesus.  HE is our blessing. 

LORD, open my heart to respond to YOUR great love for me in the Messiah Jesus.  Help me feel secure in YOUR perfect plan for my life.  

LORD, YOU have bought us out of slavery to sin, death due to our wickedness, from futility, from the rebellious culture we live in, and from the domination of the dark lord in our lives by the sacrifice and  suffering YOU poured out with YOUR blood so that our salvation may be bought for and we can be forgiven all our moral transgressions.  All of this was undeserved and unearned.  YOU have suffered for our sins motivated solely by YOUR love and commitment to us.  

Lord, when I think of the forgiveness of my sins, it is a marvel to me.  Why would YOU forgive and at such great price for me to be free to have relationship with YOU.   My transgressions so terrible and YOUR tribulation so great upon the cross; how can this be?  I thank YOU Lord for YOUR forgiving me and washing me clean from all my moral filth.  

LORD, YOU have bankrupted heaven to pour on us in such great abundance and flood into our lives every great good in the Messiah Jesus to where we are drowning in the great wealth of YOUR love.  All of this was in accord with your eternal plan and purpose centered in the Messiah to bring back Eden on steroids to all of creation fully and perfectly reflecting YOUR wise reign.  LORD, now let your kingdom come to earth as it is in heaven.  

LORD, open my eyes to see more clearly the wonder of your gospel mystery revealed in Messiah Jesus.  Let me see that all things are now united in the Messiah Jesus because of HIS resurrection and ascension to the throne.  I praise YOU for your wild and wonderful purpose to save YOUR creation from rebellion and bring to it the kingdom of righteousness.  

LORD, YOU have allowed us now to freely and fully gain the inheritance of YOUR kingdom.  Heaven is ours!  All the good of the LORD Jesus we now have.  YOU have made us who were homeless and helpless; royal heirs.  We who were paupers have now become princesses and princes.  

I find myself in wonder at all YOU have said YOU have done for me.  I forget all so easily that I am rich and feel impoverished instead every day.  Open the eyes of my heart LORD that I may see more clearly the greatness and goodness of who YOU are and what YOU have done for me.   Let me see more and more clearly the depth of YOUR grace towards me.  In this pour out YOUR love through the Holy Spirit into the deepest parts of my soul.  Fill me with your love.  That the fruit that I would bear would be more and more nearly, follow YOU in my words, actions, and attitudes.   

Bless be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus the Messiah.  Amen