Friday 3 January, 2014

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

In reading this passage I didn’t event get past the first line before I was encouraged! Paul starts this letter off with such a declaration of identity, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God.” What authority there is when we stop and realize that when we live as God has called us to, in His ways, following His leading, then we are in the will of God and what God wills, His purposes, no one can stop. Amen to that!

Bethany, a witness of Christ Jesus by the will of God; Bethany, a teacher by the will of God; a wife by the will of God; a daughter by the will of God; a friend by the will of God…. It goes on and on.

Lord, thank you that you fill me with vision and purpose and thank you that you have given me a life worth living. Help me each day to walk in this reality: as I walk in your ways I am walking in your will and no one can stand in the way of your will. I’m so glad Lord to be a part of your plans, which are so much grander than I can imagine. Thank you that my life counts in the story you are writing. Amen.

Written by Beth Waugh