Blessed - Examining Ephesians – September 2 Readings: Ephesians 1:3-10

Ephesians: A Worthy Walk 

For the next month, we will be studying the Book of Ephesians, a letter Paul wrote while he was in jail in Rome, awaiting his first trial. Ephesus was one of his best churches, and he spent a lot of time there on his missionary journeys. The church likely planted the other churches of Asia Minor that Jesus referenced in Revelation 2-3. 

Ephesians is easily outlined. Chapters 1-3 speak of the great salvation we have in Christ, which comes by grace through faith alone. Then, 4:1 is the turning point, where Paul admonishes them to "walk worthy of the calling you have received." We cannot be worthy of Christ's salvation - it is a gift of grace. But having received it, we can then, by the Spirit's power, WALK worthy. Chapters 4-6 describe the worthy walk. This is a favorite template of Paul. He develops a doctrine then applies it practically. 

As often as time allows, the reader is encouraged to read the entire book - it will not take more than a few minutes. Each day we will work our way through the book passage by passage. 

Today's Reading:  Ephesians 1-6    Focus Passage - Ephesians 1:3-10     

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ 10 as a plan for the right time—

Through the Bible Readings: Isaiah15-16, 1 Corinthians 6, Psalm 104:1–8, Proverbs 21:29–31

If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings. 

Devotional:  Blessed!   

 I really need a blessing today; how about you? This has been a tough year, with so many challenges. We could all use a blessing or two, right? Maybe, if we are good, God will pour out a blessing on us, perhaps something new today, more than he did yesterday.

That's the way we think, isn't it? We long for blessings. We seek blessings from Jesus. We struggle and strive to receive them. We wonder what we have to do to get more of them. But there is a problem with this view - it runs counter to what God's word says in Ephesians 1:3.

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ.

Did you see that? It says that God HAS (past tense) blessed us with EVERY spiritual blessing we can expect. I've got every blessing I will ever need; every one I will ever receive - already.

The key words in this passage appear here and several times throughout this section (verses 3-14) - two words that change everything. "In Christ." In him, we have every blessing God can give us. Why? Because Jesus doesn't give us blessings, he IS the blessing. It may not be great grammar, but it is great theology - Jesus IS our blessings. When God gives us Christ, when we are "in him" we have everything we could want, everything we need. 

What are some of those things we have "in Christ?" This passage tells us a few of them. 

• He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. (God chose us for his own and determined to make us blameless!)
• In love, he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. (In Christ we are now part of God's heavenly family.) 
• In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace. (We are forgiven in Christ.) 
• 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 things on earth. (God has a plan to consummate history in Christ, and we are part of it!)
• In him, we have obtained an inheritance. (In Christ we inherit the riches of God's grace.)
• In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. (The Spirit is ours in Christ.)

So, when I have Christ, I don't really need anything else. He is my blessings, he is all I will ever need. In him, I have all the blessings of eternity. 

Father, thank you for your great blessing, Jesus Christ my Savior and Lord. All I need from you I have in him. 

Think and Pray:

Peruse these blessings and take time today to thank God for the salvation he has given you and all the other blessings that are yours in Christ.
Have you received the salvation which is by grace, through faith, and not by works?