Daily Bread 2010 - Ephesians 1
Thanksgiving and Prayer
15For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
As Paul begins his letter to the church at Ephesus, perhaps his greatest theological work, he reminds the believers of all the spiritual blessings they have in Christ. See verses 3-11 for a rich exposition of all the benefits we have by being “in him”. Then, in verses 12-14, Paul shows them that the tangible result of believing in Christ is that they have the “deposit” of the Holy Spirit, which is a downpayment (literally a financial term in the Greek) guaranteeing our inheritance.
Then, in the verses above, Paul prays for the Ephesians that God would “open the eyes of their heart” (cf the praise song “Open the Eyes of My Heart – one of my favorites. It is nice to know when popular praise songs are rooted in Scripture especially such a rich one as this!). Specifically he prays that they would see the hope to which they are called and their glorious inheritance in the company of saints.
Many of us may or may not be receiving an earthly inheritance, but as believers in Christ we are guaranteed the inheritance that has been reserved for God’s Son. As the unique Son of God, at the Father’s right hand, the Son has been given everything, including power over all things, not only in the present, but also in the age to come.
Have you ever stopped to realize the implications of all these promises if you too are a believer? Do you realize that you are a co-heir with the one that owns it all? We often live with a “scarcity mentality” as Christians, thinking more of the things we can’t do or can’t have, rather than all the glorious riches we have been given in Christ. As you count your blessings on this Labor Day, and if you are employed thank God for your work, make sure to count your spiritual blessings. They will far surpass any material blessing you might achieve on this earth.
Dear Jesus thank you for including us in the plan of salvation, when we heard the word of truth, the Gospel. May we live our lives knowing our inheritance we have as sons and daughters of the King, and brother and sisters with the Son of God, the head of the church. Help us to live now boldly claiming our inheritance and living in the power you have given us as you sit at the right hand of God, and wait to return in full revelation of your power and grace for all the world to see. Amen.
15For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
As Paul begins his letter to the church at Ephesus, perhaps his greatest theological work, he reminds the believers of all the spiritual blessings they have in Christ. See verses 3-11 for a rich exposition of all the benefits we have by being “in him”. Then, in verses 12-14, Paul shows them that the tangible result of believing in Christ is that they have the “deposit” of the Holy Spirit, which is a downpayment (literally a financial term in the Greek) guaranteeing our inheritance.
Then, in the verses above, Paul prays for the Ephesians that God would “open the eyes of their heart” (cf the praise song “Open the Eyes of My Heart – one of my favorites. It is nice to know when popular praise songs are rooted in Scripture especially such a rich one as this!). Specifically he prays that they would see the hope to which they are called and their glorious inheritance in the company of saints.
Many of us may or may not be receiving an earthly inheritance, but as believers in Christ we are guaranteed the inheritance that has been reserved for God’s Son. As the unique Son of God, at the Father’s right hand, the Son has been given everything, including power over all things, not only in the present, but also in the age to come.
Have you ever stopped to realize the implications of all these promises if you too are a believer? Do you realize that you are a co-heir with the one that owns it all? We often live with a “scarcity mentality” as Christians, thinking more of the things we can’t do or can’t have, rather than all the glorious riches we have been given in Christ. As you count your blessings on this Labor Day, and if you are employed thank God for your work, make sure to count your spiritual blessings. They will far surpass any material blessing you might achieve on this earth.
Dear Jesus thank you for including us in the plan of salvation, when we heard the word of truth, the Gospel. May we live our lives knowing our inheritance we have as sons and daughters of the King, and brother and sisters with the Son of God, the head of the church. Help us to live now boldly claiming our inheritance and living in the power you have given us as you sit at the right hand of God, and wait to return in full revelation of your power and grace for all the world to see. Amen.
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