Ephesians 1:3-6
Vs.3 “…who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ…” This is past tense. He has already put forth the order to bless us with every spiritual blessing available in Christ Jesus. Christ said I must leave to prepare a place for you in heaven. The room is ready, the blessings are wrapped, gifts and talents are waiting. Are you ready to receive them? Are you looking? What have you found? Praise Him, thank Him. Are you living a like one who is blessed?
Vs.4 “…for the Father has chosen us before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight…” When God chose to create the world, He knew we would fail Him, hurt Him, and disobey Him. He looked into the future and saw you, saw me and said,
“I want that precious one. I don’t want to miss out on the chance of having this one as My own. This one is too important to Me. I will create the world and send My only Son to die for the sins of this dear one, so that she/he can be holy and blameless and be a part of my kingdom.”
Jesus said,
“This precious child is worth all the pain and suffering I will endure.”
Do you know the Father’s love? Have you received the gift of salvation from the penalty of sin that Christ died to give you? *
Vs.5 “In love, the Father, determined that He wanted to adopt you and me through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will…” Adopting us brings Him pleasure and is in accordance with His will. Each of us is important enough to bring Him pleasure and be in His will. Each of us is a part of God’s plan! We are accepted, loved and pleasing to the King, the Lord Jesus Christ. He wants you to be a part of His will.
Vs.6 “…to the praise of His glorious grace, which He freely gives us in the One he loves.” Our part in His will (as if being in His will wasn’t enough) brings Him praise- just being and choosing Him, brings Him praise. Not what we do, what we have to offer, just choosing Him and being in His will. That is amazing! Think on this for a moment….when was the last time someone appreciated you choosing him or her? When was the last time you were valued for just being and not doing?
God knew before He created the world, which ones would choose Him and follow Him. He has been waiting, like an expectant Father, for the one who would say, “Yes”. He knew your name, who you would be and what you would look like. He waited thousands of years to die for you and than waited almost 2,000 more years to have you in His family. He did this knowing how many times you would fall short. He loved each of you enough to wait anyway and loves you despite your shortcomings. Wow!
He loves you more than you will ever know.
* Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
3 comments:
from Don
Thanks Renee,
Ephesians is so rich. It is always a great reminder to know who we really are in Christ.
What a Blessed year we have had here. Summer camper numbers most in probably 10 years. Many first time commitments and many more re dedications. We have two huge piles of rocks to show for it. We asked the summer staff that every time someone made a commitment, that they bring a rock to service on Sunday afternoon and share the story with everyone there. One piles was for first time commitments and the other for re dedications. It was such a blessing to hear the stories and watch the piles grow as the summer progressed. The staff were expecting and looking for GOD to move, and HE did.
Campground numbers were also ahead of last year. Thank you again for your part in that in telling folks at work that we were an OK place to come to.
We end our fiscal year tomorrow and it looks like we will be in the black for the first time in probably 15 years. We have been able to pay down a good portion of our long term debt as well. I think we have less than $100 thousand to go until we are entirely out of debt. For this place, this is huge indeed. For the 10 years prior to our current director, they went to the bank every year to borrow money just so they could operate. In the first 4 years of this new director, he had to do the same. This is the first year that has not had to happen. You can only imagine how thankful we all are. Thank you again for all that you and Bruce do as part of that.
Trust the mighty hunters have a fun and safe fall hunting season.
Would love to have you and Bruce come up and stay in our prayer cabin sometime just to give you a place to get away and to "be still."
LORD'S Blessings,
Don
Renee,
Expectant Father - Very good.
God allow himself to let us come to him even through he saw the future of our failures.
Nicely put.
Have a Nice Day,
Bruce Richter
Renee,
Expectant Father - Very good.
God allow himself to let us come to him even through he saw the future of our failures.
Nicely put.
Have a Nice Day,
Bruce Richter
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