July 5, 2015: Ephesians 1:3-14

Ephesians 1:3-14

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, ⁴ just as he chose us in Christ^[a] before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. ⁵ He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace that 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 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight ⁹ he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, ¹⁰ as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. ¹¹ In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance,^[b] having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, ¹² so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. ¹³ In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; ¹⁴ this^[c] is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.

Reflection: 
Have you ever been a recipient of an inheritance? I think the first part is awesome in having joy of receiving something. But then, taxes hit...that might hurt some.  Then, there might be tension between relatives. They should have gotten something more or they wanted this item.  The list can go on and on. Sometimes, it  turns out to be more of a mess than a blessing.  However, there is one inheritance that will not cause this kind of fuss...that is God's love.  We have been given the gift of redemption and we should carry this gift with care and praise.

Reflection Questions:
Morning: When have you been given a gift?
Noon:  What changes in you in knowing that you have been given hope in Christ?
Evening: How might you share this gift with others?