Devotion for Monday, 16 MAY 2011 Anno Domini

Devotion for Monday, 16 MAY 2011 Anno Domini

1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Eph 1:1-14)

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus.” Paul, appropriately, states his calling and credentials so that his message will also bear the seal of authenticity. No man is a true minister apart from God’s will. Churches may ordain in wholesale numbers, but only the God-called man has the commission to preach. Who are the saints referred to by Paul - you, me, and every soul who confesses Christ as Lord and Savior!

“Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” Peace is a product of Grace – an inward Grace imparted by the Holy Spirit of God. Given that Grace, a man’s heart will enjoy great inward peace regardless the outward chaos. That which comes from God the Father likewise comes from God the Son.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” The Godhead is a Trinity of Persons. The blessing of God the Father is dependent also upon God the Son through God the Holy Spirit. The Three Persons of the Godhead are of One Mind and Purpose. How can this be? We can imagine nothing that exists in the material world without dimension. If we observe a stone, it must possess three dimensions – height, depth, and width. Remove either one of those dimensions and we have NOTHING! The Godhead is like unto those dimensions, but rather we should call them directions for they are infinite in each direction. Each is a function of the other. “The shamrock has three leaves, but it is one plant with one stem.” (St Patrick). It is the intent of God to give us a taste of heaven even here upon this globe, in Christ.

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” A powerful claim that should give us an over-weaning joy. Imagine! God chose us in His Son BEFORE the foundation of the world! In His Mind of Creation, He conceived us in full before there was an earth upon which for us to stand. His great plan involved the intricate details of our DNA – the eye color, the hair, the stature, and the personality all became real in the Mind of God before the Sun, Moon, or Stars became real. I looked at the Moon tonight with my telescope. It was brilliant in its reflection of the Sun’s light. Every crater on the earthward side was clearly visible, but its shape is near a perfect circle. It was not worn in that way by friction of the ether of space, but was designed and made the way it appears by the Great Creator. So are you! Your countenance has craters of past sins, but, in Christ, God perceives you in perfection, and full of the reflected Light of His Son! It was His will whereby we were predestinated to the adoption in Christ. And our wills are subordinate and dependent upon His Holy Will.

“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” Did we make ourselves accepted in His Beloved? No, not at all. Through His Grace He has made us acceptable in Christ.

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself.” Yes, and redemption in none other. This forgiveness comes without an ounce of merit on our own part, but is all of His Grace., and He has riches in Grace! “Abounded toward us,” how I love that descriptive phrase. He teems with wisdom and prudence. He has made known to the simple, as well as the scholar, the mystery of His will. Were that Will a common commodity, it would not be a mystery but, instead, public knowledge – but it isn’t! And it is given according to His own purpose. He takes pleasure in granting us all the grace we can afford.

“That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.” Beautiful to contemplate. When the time is full, He shall gather all together – both the Old and New Testament churches – into One, both those who remain, and those who have died before in Christ. This must be the Communion of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!

“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.” He it is who works all things according to the pleasure of His Will. Why? So that we may become shining beacons of praise to His glory after we have first trusted in Christ.

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” We, too, are included in the glorious intention of God, who have believed on His Son. We have heard the Gospel, have believed it, have received it as our own, and its salvation, and have been sealed as children of promise just as surely as was Isaac, our early Father.

“Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” The surety of our inheritance is the Promise of God made firm by the redeeming blood of Christ. What better promise, or firmer redemption? WE have already been purchased. We now await final delivery to that inheritance for which angels have longed to enjoy.

The primordial plans of God are the present plans of God. He changeth not. He has worked all things by His Will and to His Glory – including all those who know and believe. Do you believe strongly enough to hunger and thirst after God’s Word daily? What greater regard can you have than that of your own soul?