We are Chosen

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Ephesians 1:1-14. The book of Ephesians is one of many books in the Bible that are letters written by the Apostle Paul to the churches of his day. Paul’s letters were meant to encourage the churches and help them to follow the ways of God. Some of the churches Paul founded. We know from reading Acts 19 that Paul lived in Ephesus for two years. Paul refers to himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God. By addressing the letter this way he is telling that he wrote the letter.

You may be a mom, dad, grandparent, pastor, teacher, etc. by the will of God. You are where God has placed you for a reason. He has a plan for your life.

Paul addresses the letter to the saints at Ephesus and the faithful in Christ, which includes those of us who are saved. He greets them by wishing them grace and peace from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul gives glory to God saying, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ.” Paul is talking to Christians and he wants them to understand all the blessings they have in Jesus Christ.

He reminds them that we were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, and we should be holy and blameless before Him in love. We were created to become God’s children and to have an personal relationship and fellowship with God.

Paul says God predestined us to become His children by adoption through Jesus Christ, by His will and for His pleasure. We praise God that because of the glory of His grace, we were made acceptable in the “beloved,” (verse 6) which is Jesus Christ. We have been redeemed.

Jesus paid for our sins through His blood and forgave us because of the riches of His grace, which He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. God’s secret plan, which He designed long ago according to His purpose, is centered on Christ and He has revealed it to us.

God’s plan is that at the right time He will bring everything in heaven and earth together in Christ. In Him we were chosen to receive an inheritance, because He predestined it according to His will. We who first trusted in Christ were chosen to live for the praise of His glory.

When you heard the truth of the gospel of your salvation and believed in Christ, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit, whom God promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that He will give us all He has promised us and that He purchased us to be His children, to the praise of His glory.

Daily Bible Reading:

Ephesians 1:1-14

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Things to think about:

• Have you ever thought that becoming a Christian was similar to adoption?

• Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If yes, when did you come to know Him? If no, have you considered accepting Jesus as your Savior?

• What does it mean to be sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You that in this Scripture we are reminded how much you love us and that You chose us to be Your children before the foundation of the world.  We pray that You would help us to be obedient and to show Your love to the world so they might come to know You as their Heavenly Father, as well.  We thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ, who gave His life on the cross so we might be redeemed and forgiven of our sins.  We see in this Scripture that everything is for the praise of Your glory.  We love You, LORD and thank You for all the promises You have given us.  In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

-This is an excerpt from The Book of Ephesians: Paul’s Letter to the Church at Ephesus by Deborah H. Bateman

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Featured Book:

The Book of Ephesians: Paul’s Letter to the Church at Ephesus

by Deborah H. Bateman

The Book of Ephesians: Paul’s Letter to the Church at Ephesus is a Daily Bible Reading Study by Deborah H. Bateman. It is a study of the book of Ephesians from the New Testament of the Bible. Ephesians is one of the Apostle Paul’s letters, which was written to the church at Ephesus.

In the book of Ephesians Paul reminds us that we are chosen of God. He encourages us to walk in unity in the church. He talks about our various relationships including our relationship with Christ, with each other, the husband-wife relationship and others. He also exhorts us to put on the full armor of God so that we are clothed for battle against the enemy.

The Book of Ephesians: Paul’s Letter to the Church at Ephesus consists of twelve lessons, which can be used for an individual daily Bible study or a group Bible study. Each lesson consists of a brief commentary, the Daily Bible Reading Scripture, a few questions for contemplation called, “Things to think about,” and a prayer for the day.

For those of you interested in Bible journaling, may I suggest you pick your favorite Bible verse from each lesson and journal about it. This will be a great reminder of the lessons you learn as you read and study this book.

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Have a blessed day,

Deborah

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