Relax! It’s All Under His Feet

“I believe in the sun even if it is not shining. I believe in love even when I am alone. I believe in God even when He is silent.” - Unknown

Overview: The book of Ephesians was written to the believers in the city of Ephesus, a principle port on the west coast of Asia Minor, near what is known today as present-day Izmir. Paul had developed a deep relationship with the Ephesians earlier in his ministry and now writes a farewell letter to them from a prison cell in Rome. The letter to the Ephesians discloses the plan of God, His “secret” intention for the church: (1) to form a body of people who would express God’s fullness on the earth, (2) to do this by bringing all people together, Jew and Gentile, in whom God resides, and (3) to equip the saints to do the work of the ministry so that the body of Christ may grow. In Ephesians 1, Paul reminds the Ephesians that they are a blessed people, chosen by God, adopted, and accepted in the Beloved. The Holy Spirit is evident in this passage - given as the Guarantee of our inheritance! Paul finalizes the chapter in a prayer for wisdom for the saints, that God may be revealed to us and that we may realize the greatness of His power, love, and provision.

Memory Verse: Ephesians 1:4,5 - … just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.

Ephesians 1

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,
To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Confession: I have been chosen by God and He accepts me unto Himself. I have been adopted by the Father and I am part of a royal family. His great power works in me. I am secure in Him because the Holy Spirit acts as the Seal, the Guarantee, of my inheritance.

THOUGHTS...INSIGHT...What is the Lord saying to me? Leave a comment below.