Trying to understand the gospel and the love of God is like standing in a room with many mirrors - the more you look the more you see. The images continue to reflect as far as your eye can see. As we study the love of God, His love reflects in our lives and hearts as far as we can see. The more we look, the more we see of His beauty and love. Older Christians (not age wise but those who have been Christian longer) should be the most joyous and praise filled believers as they’ve had more time to peer into the depths of God’s love. Ephesians 1:1-14 is a mine shaft of jewels of God’s love. It could take years to mine out all the jewels from this one passage let alone from the entire Bible. Rejoice! Praise God!
Let me rattle off a few of the images of God’s love that appear in this passage. Firstly, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. Not one spiritual blessing has been omitted in Christ. You have them all. Read that very carefully. In Christ Jesus you have every spiritual blessing; not one is missing; not one is held back
Let me rattle off a few of the images of God’s love that appear in this passage. Firstly, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. Not one spiritual blessing has been omitted in Christ. You have them all. Read that very carefully. In Christ Jesus you have every spiritual blessing; not one is missing; not one is held back from you; you have them all. Secondly, God chose to lavish you with His love from the creation of the world. If you can picture God as an architect drawing up the plans for the world, you can see your picture in His drawing with a post it note reading, ‘Lavish __________ with my love.’ Your name is written in the blank. God’s riches, God’s grace, God’s forgiveness have been lavished upon you. He hasn’t got out His heavenly eye dropper and measured out a measly, miniscule amount. He has lavished you with His love and forgiveness. Instead of giving you a small drop of love, God has poured the entire ocean upon you. Your life in Christ will be to the praise and glory of Him who called you. On judgement day people will look at you, the angels and heavenly beings will look at you and sing praise and glory to God.
We could go on expanding and detailing more and more of God’s love from this single passage. We could write entire volumes about God’s love - many people have. Go out and read them. But notice vs 13-14! Read them slowly and carefully. God has sealed you with His Holy Spirit. God has put His mark on you so that nothing or no one in this world, or the next can take God’s love away from you. God has given you the perfect guarantee that He will walk you into His heavenly kingdom. Nothing can undo that promise or guarantee. God has made a heavenly inheritance for you. He has made you for that heavenly inheritance. And God will bring the two together on the final day of judgment. All that belongs to Christ Jesus will be waiting for you.
What’s the appropriate response to such love? Why not pray about it and ask God?
Prayer:-
- Pray that God would show you the appropriate response to His love and mercy to you personally. Pray that your heart will be filled with joy and gratitude as you live in His love.
- Pray that the students at The Reformed Bible Institute and Grace College in Myanmar would be equipped to share the love of Christ throughout this predominantly Buddhist nation. Pray that many would come to know Jesus personally as the students preach faithfully and courageously.
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