Read Ephesians 1 -- 3
In Today's Reading:
Spiritual blessings in Christ; prayers of Paul; unity of believers; Paul's mission to the Gentiles
The God Who created all mankind has chosen us to be His children. In fact, He has chosen us in Him before the foundation (beginning) of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him. . . . In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:4,7). No person or power can cheat us out of the very best that God has planned for our lives. As we daily read and study His Word with a desire to do His will, we can then pray and depend upon the Holy Spirit to guide our lives according to the eternal purpose (plan) which He purposed (planned) in Christ Jesus our Lord (3:11).
Before Christ came to earth, only the Jews had a Covenant relationship with God. At that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the Covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world (2:12). Jews and Gentiles alike who receive Christ as Savior and Lord now have a Covenant relationship with God. Through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father (2:18).
In A.D. 70, God used the Roman general Titus to destroy the Temple, the Brazen Altar of Sacrifice, and the functions of the high priest. These merely foreshadowed the Messiah Jesus Who is the only Means through which anyone can approach the One True Holy God to worship Him, for we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him (3:12).
Is it any surprise that Satan will deceptively seek to keep us too busy doing "good" things in his effort to keep us from reading God's Word which will make our prayers effective? Because of our love for the Lord, the true believer looks forward to a daily dialog of prayer (talking to God) and reading His Word (God talking to us).
I pray that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to . . . know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:17-19).
Cross References:
For Ephesians 1:22: see Psalm 8:6. Ephesians 2:17: see Isaiah 57:19.
Word Studies:
1:8 prudence = spiritual insight; 1:10 dispensation = Divine Order; 1:14 earnest = promise; 2:1 quickened = made alive; 2:13 sometimes = formerly(not "occasionally"); 3:3 mystery = hidden purpose of God; 3:13 faint not = don't give up.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for Bible Pathway Distributors · for the International Shortwave Radio Broadcast sponsored by Ken and Arlene Metzler · Government Officials: Rep. Asa Hutchinson (AR), Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX), and Rep. Ralph Regula (OH) · Country: El Salvador (6 million) in Central America · Major language: Spanish · Some intolerance of Protestants by government officials · 96% Roman Catholic; 3% Protestant · Prayer Suggestion: Begin each morning with prayer (Psalm 5:3).
Memory Verse for the Week: Ephesians 5:5