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. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love, he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. 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, so that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 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, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:3-14
Let’s read the following passage. “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace, you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:4-10
What do things passage say? What do these passages teach me about being a follower of Jesus?
From the moment we become aware of God’s love for us and surrender by turning away from our sinful nature and placing our faith in Christ Jesus, we are changed forever. The Bible speaks on how God lavishes us with His spiritual blessings on us. Let’s jot down some of those blessings! According to the scriptures above, here are some of those blessings.
- Blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
- Holy and blameless in his sight.
- adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ
- his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves
- redemption through his blood
- the forgiveness of sins
- the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.
- he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure
- In him, we were also chosen
- alive with Christ
- God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus
- show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus
Those who follow Christ are blessed. We are chosen, holy, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, filled with the Holy Spirit, created for good works, and given Him access. These blessings are truths that can’t be seen. We, as followers of Christ, are learning to live these blessings here on earth. How do you think about yourself? Is there anything that needs to change for you to see yourself the way God sees you?
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your lavish love and the many many blessings you give to each of us. I pray that we will see ourselves the way you see each of us as individuals.
In Jesus Name
Amen
