Monday, October 14, 2013

Benefits of Knowing God (Ephesians 1:7-12)



Today's scripture: Ephesians 1:7-12

In Him—in our Lord Jesus Christ—we have been given so much.

As we learned Friday, God had a plan to make redemption and forgiveness available to both Jew and Gentile.

In God’s perfect plan, anyone who believes in Jesus as Lord and Savior and accepts the free gift of salvation receives God’s grace and mercy. These verses remind us of other blessings:

We receive redemption. According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary,
redeem means to “buy back,” to “release from blame or debt” or to “free from the consequences of sin.” Because of our Lord’s love for us, we are “free from the consequences of sin.”

We know the “mystery of His will.” While God may not reveal all of His will to us, if we ask Him to direct our paths, if we surrender ourselves completely to Him, He will guide us.

We can be assured that He has a purpose for our lives. And sometimes, for me at least, this is the one that gets me up in the morning. If I didn’t believe God had a purpose for my pain, I’d never get out of bed. Days like today, when the pain level is almost off the charts, make me long for heaven, “... having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better” (Philippians 1:23). I know, however, that God isn’t finished with my earthly journey yet; He still has a purpose for me.

So I crawl out of bed, praising Him that I can do so. I praise Him for redemption. I praise Him for His will for me. I praise Him for His purpose.

He is such a good God!

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