Ephesians 1:5

Ephesians 1:5

he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—NIV

Sonship is a very powerful position to hold in a family. With it comes many benifits and blessings and likewise there are expectations and responsibilities. the following is a list of such blessings and responsibilities.

Blessings	Responsibilities
inheritance	stewardship
access	reverence
security	to remain vigilant
a good future and a hope	staying in step
peaceful existence	being a peacemaker
being loved	loving the unlovable
patience	slowing down to another’s speed
knowing that He sees the best in me	expecting the best in others
receiving gifts	being generous
having wisdom	remaining sober minded for the sake of others
being called by His Name “Christian”	being careful to not tarnish the family name

application

To be mindful today of my responsibilities as a Son of the most High.

Ephesians 1:4

Ephesians 1:4

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

As the Lord washed the feet of the disciples he made it clear that in this world we would become sullied and have need to be cleansed. Also in this example it is the Lord himself who takes it upon himself to do the cleaning. Indeed we are the ones who are dirty and made the mess of ourselves but from God’s perspective we cannot make ourselves clean - that is His work that He does on our behalf.

Philippians 1:6

He who began the good work in you will be faithful to complete it.

I do need to do what I can to stay out of trouble but in the final analysis it is God who does the work of making us clean and acceptable.

application

I need to rest in the fact that my hope for heaven rests in the faithful hands of God and that my responsibility is to keep myself from jumping into sin, and to not walk in condemnation for it is God who has called me to make me holy.

Ephesians 1:3

Ephesians 1:3

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.

Here Paul is taking us on a spiritual overview of what happens to us when we are indeed found “in Christ”. There are some awesome benefits to this position and here is a depiction of one that needs to be clearly understood to have its full work in us. Since we are united with Christ, the Holy Spirit lives inside of us, to guide us to truth, to convict us of sin and to comfort us, He will also endow us with various spiritual gifts at certain appointed times as He deems necessary for us to accomplish His will. These spiritual gifts become tools to be used to build Christ into ourselves and also into the lives of those around us. However if we are unaware of these gifts or we do not exercise the use of these gifts we can become impotent in our usefulness for Christ. Just like a craftsman needs to practice his craft and the use of his tools to build something of value so we are to operate in the Spirit with our giftings to become more and more proficient over time. Eventually operating in our giftings we will find ourselves walking in the Spirit serving and ministering at every opportunity bearing fruit that remains.

application

I need to find new and clever ways to be a blessing to those around me. To assist in their needs, to pour out my time and energy and activity on their behalf. I need to do this keeping my spirit in tune to operate with the spiritual giftings The Lord has bestowed on me. By God’s grace I will exemplify a poured out life of service.

Ephesians 1:2

Ephesians 1:2

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

What a blessing to be in the number of people to receive grace and peace from the Father and the Lord Jesus. It is always God’s will to extend grace to empower us to accomplish his purposes and peace to continue to fight the good fight. Having peace is the same as being unified within oneself. Because a house divided will not stand. So as we have peace with God we are united with Him in our battle against the flesh, the world and the enemy. The grace He pours out is our preparation and fuel to step out and do things beyond the minimum that is expected of us and to exceed into the supernatural. To His glory.

application

I need to find new and clever ways to be a blessing to those around me. To assist in their needs, to pour out my time and energy and activity on their behalf. By God’s grace I will exemplify a poured out life of service. In due season opening the door for there to be peace with God.

Ephesians 1:1

Ephesians 1:1
This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.
I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.

Interpretation
It is by the will of God that we are appointed to the different positions we attain in life. Paul was selected by the will of God to operate and fulfill the role of an Apostle.

Noah Webster 1828
CHOSEN, participle passive
1. Selected from a number; picked out; taken in preference; elected; predestinated; designated to office.
2. Select; distinguished by preference; eminent.

Paul was distinguished by the preference of God. He was hand selected to perform a certain destiny that was ordained in advance by the will of the Father.  Likewise we all have a pre-ordained path arranged for us to walk in that is according to the will of God.

Ephesians 2:10 
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Therefore my mission is to persue Him and His will for the place He has ordained for me in this journey. To make peace with where He has me and to accept it as His ordination. He is the one who promotes, and places us in the position of His choosing.

Application
It is my ambition to seek the Lord for marching orders daily so that I find myself on His ordained path for me.