Ephesians 1:3-14 (NRSV)
Read Ephesians 1:3-14 on biblegateway.com
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
I know adoption can be a blessing. It’s how we welcomed our grandchild into our family. United as one loving family, we share our God-given unique personalities and abilities. Earthly adoption can be marvelous, but heavenly adoption is miraculous! When God adopts us, we become God’s full heirs, Christ’s siblings, and one with each other. God accomplishes this unity through Christ, in whom “there is no longer Jew or Greek, . . . male and female” (Galatians 3:28). Adopted into God’s family and united as one, together we learn the mystery of God’s will and plans (vv. 9–10). We all receive an inheritance, so we live with hope and praise for our Triune God’s glory (vv. 11–12). In our divine family, we siblings share the responsibility to proclaim the gospel’s truth for everyone. This truth is salvation’s transformative message: grace can forever unite us all within God’s family.
Prayer
God our Parent, thank you for adopting us as full heirs into your divine family. Help us hear your call and share your message of hope, love, grace, and salvation with all people. In Christ, Amen.
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