Ephesians 1:3-14 (NRSV)
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Verse 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, Verse 4just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. Verse 5He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, Verse 6to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. Verse 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace Verse 8that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight Verse 9he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, Verse 10as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. Verse 11In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, Verse 12so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. Verse 13In 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; Verse 14this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God's own people, to the praise of his glory.
Devotion
The 12-step recovery movement suggests that at the heart of all addictions lies a spiritual malady—namely, pride. And the solution lies in relinquishing ego and surrendering to the God of this universe, followed by a life of brutal honesty, humility, gratitude and trust.
Likewise, the writer to the Ephesians insinuates that egocentric, narcissistic, god-in-the-box religion has no place for Christ followers. Indeed, our faith is not all about us. It’s all about a wonder-filled, mysterious God who blesses us, chooses us, destines us, appoints us and seals us with the Holy Spirit. Why is God so benevolent toward us? Three times in this brief text the writer reminds us that all this is done to the praise of his glory, not ours.
The spiritual life, foundationally, allows a space to exist where God can dwell. Christmas again invites us to keep making room at the inn and receive from God what only God can give, to the praise of his glory.
Prayer
Gracious Lord, grant us the supreme grace this day to trust, surrender and relinquish all, so that we might receive what you have in store for us and respond with gratitude. Amen.