Lutheran Seminary – Moved by the Promise – God Pause – Wednesday,
1 January 2014 - Ephesians 1: Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
4 just as he chose us in Christ[a] before the foundation of the world to be
holy and blameless before him in love. 5 He destined us for adoption as his
children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to
the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our
trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he lavished on us. With
all wisdom and insight 9 he has made known to us the mystery of his will,
according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 10 as a plan for
the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and
things on earth. 11 In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance,[b] having
been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things
according to his counsel and will, 12 so that we, who were the first to set our
hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also,
when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had
believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; 14
this[c] is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people,
to the praise of his glory.
Footnotes:
a. Ephesians 1:4 Gk in him
b. Ephesians 1:11 Or been made a heritage
c. Ephesians 1:14 Other ancient authorities read who
Happy New Year, Child of God! God has great plans for YOU! This
passage from Ephesians reminds me of my baptism. I invite you, too, to think of
the words that were spoken when the pastor made the sign of the cross on your
forehead. "Child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and
marked with the cross of Christ forever." You might think of it as your
first tattoo! And it's permanent! You are God's child forever.
I see Baptism as our being bubble wrapped by God. We are wrapped
up in God's love and mercy and grace. We are given God's constant protection
and care. Sure we still get lost, bruised, and even broken, but through Christ
we are restored to newness of life again and again. There is nothing we can do
to make God love us any less. There is nothing we can do to make God love us
any more. God loves us, period! We are in God's care and keeping forever.
Rejoice today and throughout the New Year in that good news. Know that you are
blessed beyond belief and called to be a blessing to others.
Gracious God, thank you for calling us and claiming us as your
own. Help us to remember who we are and whose we are as we live out our
Baptismal promise for the praise of your glory. AMEN!
Meg Sander
Pastor of Children, Youth and Family, First Lutheran Church,
Kearney, Neb.
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly
places,
4 just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the
world to be holy and blameless before him in love.
5 He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus
Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on
us in the Beloved.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness
of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace
8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight
9 he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to
his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ,
10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things
in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
11 In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been
destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according
to his counsel and will,
12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ,
might live for the praise of his glory.
13 In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the
gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of
the promised Holy Spirit;
14 this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as
God's own people, to the praise of his glory.
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Luther Seminary
2481 Como Ave
St. Paul, Minn. 55108 United States
Phone: (651)641-3456
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