Ephesians 1: 3-14
Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. 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. 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. 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 together under one head, even Christ.
In 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, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you were also 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, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory.
A Thought
The Father chose us before the creation of the world to be made holy and blameless, to be adopted in love as his son made possible by the redemption of the blood of his Son Jesus Christ with the forgiveness of sins and when we believe we are marked with a seal of the Holy Spirit guaranteeing us our inheritance in him. The Father chose us in his plan of grace, wisdom, understanding and good pleasure to bring everything in heaven and on earth together for his Son in whom he loves, Jesus the Christ, to be the head when the times have reached their fulfillment. All this is done for God’s children to the glory of our Heavenly Father. Receive the Son, receive the Holy Spirit and receive the Father.
Our Prayer
Father thank you for making all good things possible in your Son for our redemption through his shed blood. We ask that you fill us with your Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and understanding of the mystery of your will for us. We desire to be a part of you complete plan of redemption for our adoption and inheritance with Jesus the Christ to bring glory and honor to you, in Jesus’ name, amen.
