Believer's Inheritance in Christ

The Sovereignty of God
The Sovereignty of Jesus

High Priest Forever

Ephesians 1:11-19  The Message

^11-12 It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
^13-14 It’s in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what’s coming, a reminder that we’ll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.
^15-19 That’s why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn’t stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I’d think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!

For Reflection

Who has not entertained the question, "Who and Why am I?" Designed by God for glorious living, we are hardly living up to that gift.  Our independent lives of freewill make the gift more valuable and yet, ironically, we employ freewill to avoid acting on the greatest gift ever given.  We continue to live under the assumption that we are the captains of our ships the masters of our fate.   What folly!  How much better would the world be if we only embraced the truth and lived lives of compassionate selflessness.

Pray

That you will believe in the Gospel of Good News and act on that belief.  Praise God for the Gift of Grace and for the evidence of God's unlimited love, Jesus Christ.