WBC Daily Devotions September 20-24, 2010

A Study of Ephesians
Daily Devotionals for September 20-24

NOTE: As we continue our studies in the New Testament book of Ephesians, you are encouraged to read and meditate throughout the week on the text for the upcoming Sunday's sermon. There is no better preparation for hearing the teaching of God's Word than to prayerfully read the Scripture portions to be studied and ask God that "the eyes of your heart may be enlightened" (Ephesians 1:18).

THIS WEEK'S TEXT

13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession -- to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

Read Ephesians 1:13-14 each day this week. This is the text that Pastor Rob will teach from on Sunday, September 25.

As we've worked our way through the beginning verses of Ephesians 1, we've discovered a beautifully concise theology of all we are and have in Christ. Now, in verse 13, Paul gets at the very heart of the profound transaction that took place at the moment of our belief, between an initiating God and our responding hearts -- when we became holy and blameless in His sight (1:4), were adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ (1:5), and received redemption through His blood and the forgiveness of sins (1:7).

We heard the truth and responded, it tells us, and at that very moment, God included us in Christ (lavishing on us all the spiritual blessings that entails), and marked us as His own with the seal of his indwelling Holy Spirit.

The transaction set in motion "before the creation of the world" and realized in the redemptive death of Jesus Christ on the cross, has been sealed with a mark of authenticity -- a mark that signifies that God has identified us, for now and forever, as His own.

One transaction changed everything!

Father,
Thank you that I was given the opportunity to hear and respond to Your truth and to be a part of Your family forever. Thank you for those [remember them by name] who spoke those words of truth to me and nurtured my understanding. As I encounter people today, give me opportunities -- and the boldness -- to speak of that life-giving truth that changed everything for me.
Amen

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

Read Ephesians 1:13-14 each day this week. This is the text that Pastor Rob will teach from on Sunday, September 25.

There's a word right at the beginning of verse 13 that might jump off the page more to some of us than to others. To those who have ever felt excluded or alone, or might be struggling with loneliness right now, what a powerful reminder it is that we have been "included in Christ" from the moment we came to faith. Far more than any exclusive club, or tight-knit group of friends, this is one relationship of belonging that can never be denied to any and all who have been adopted into God's family and are in Christ.

Does that mean we won't ever feel lonely or rejected? No. God created us to exist in community -- in communion-with other human beings. Sometimes relationships are broken, or loved ones live far away, or death may have taken them from us.

Thank God He gave us the church -- the living, breathing family of Christ followers that we can walk with and pray with and share our lives with, and with whom we can worship and serve.

There are many people in our lives, however, who do not know what it is to be included in Christ. In fact, we live in a world full of lonely and excluded people. Ask God that even today you may have the opportunity to introduce a neighbor, a coworker, a friend or acquaintance, or even a family member, to the One in Whom they, too, can be included during this life and in the life to come.

Father,
Thank you for the confidence that I can experience every day, no matter my circumstances, that I belong to You and have been included as Your beloved child. Help me to live out that reality with others who are brothers and sisters in Christ. Help me to freely and generously communicate Your love today to everyone I meet.
Amen

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

Read Ephesians 1:13-14 each day this week. This is the text that Pastor Rob will teach from on Sunday, September 25.

A question that arises throughout our study in Ephesians is: How does the truth of this passage change everything for me? Look at verses 13 and 14. One answer draws on the reality of what it means to be "marked in Him [Christ] with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit."

It was God's Holy Spirit that first brought conviction to us as unbelievers, opening our eyes to the truth of God's Good News of salvation through Christ. It is the Holy Spirit that continues God's work in our hearts, as we submit ourselves to Him. The Holy Spirit also enables us to win our daily battle with self-centeredness and sin, to live in His power and not our own feeble strength, and to exhibit His fruit in our lives.

Father,
Thank you that I am sealed by Your Spirit -- not just like an envelope is sealed on the outside, but that the seal of Your Spirit infuses my heart and life. Help me to let go and let Your Spirit move, and speak, and act through me. Today make me a willing channel of your love... joy... peace... patience... kindness... goodness... faithfulness... and self control.
Amen

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23

We have been looking Ephesians 1:13-14 each day this week in preparation for Pastor Rob's sermon this coming Sunday, September 25. Today we will be reading these verses in their context of Ephesians 1:3-14:

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will -- 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment -- to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

11In him we were also chosen having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession -- to the praise of his glory.

What a perfect conclusion verses 13 and 14 bring to Paul's 11-verse-long, hardly-stop-to-take-a-breath hymn of praise to God, and his amazing inventory of who we are and all we have in Christ. Beginning in eternity past before the creation of the world, when God already knew us and chose us to be holy and blameless in His sight, Paul continues through Christ's work of redemption on our behalf, and our hearing and response to the truth of God's Good News of salvation. He concludes his thanksgiving and praise by pointing to that future day when Jesus Christ will be universally recognized as Lord of All, and we will join a huge praise choir to sing, "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" (Revelation 5:12).

[NOTE: If you've tried to memorize these verses from Ephesians 1, you may have found it to be particularly difficult to keep it straight. Remembering the broad timeline of these verses, from eternity past to eternity future, and how Paul lays out the unique roles of the Father (vv. 3-6), the Son (vv. 7-13), and the Holy Spirit (vv. 13-14), can help to fix the truths of Ephesians 1 in our hearts and minds.]

Father,
It is beyond my human thinking to begin to understand why You chose me, or why I was even in Your thoughts back before You created this world. I praise You for Your inconceivable love and grace.
Amen

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

We have been reading Ephesians 1:13-14 this week, as we prepare for Sunday's teaching by Pastor Rob. To remind ourselves of the context of these verses, read today beginning with Ephesians 1:3:

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will -- 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment--to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

11In him we were also chosen having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession -- to the praise of his glory.

In the final six words of this passage, Paul answers the "why" question of Ephesians 1:3-14. Why has God chosen us, made us holy and blameless in His sight, adopted us, provided for our redemption and the forgiveness of our sins? Why has He lavished the riches of His grace on us? Why has he created a plan to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under Christ, a plan that will work out "everything in conformity with the purpose of his will"? Why has He opened his plan of redemption to all who are "included in Christ"?

To the praise of His glory. Or as the New Living Translation states this phrase, "He did this so we would praise and glorify him."

Ephesians 1 is all about God's grace and His glory. We have been chosen, redeemed, and sealed by God's grace and for God's glory.

Take a moment to pray your way through these verses of Ephesians 1:3-14, pausing after each of the spiritual blessings Paul enumerates to acknowledge that each of these amazing spiritual blessings are ours by God's grace and for God's glory!

Father,
Give me a heart full or praise for You today. Let me live with a constant awareness that I was chosen, redeemed, and adopted by Your grace and for Your glory. Let the reality soak into all of my being that I am Yours only because of Your infinite grace. Let all I do and say today bring glory and praise to You.
Amen