Opening Prayer
Enlighten us, God, that we may praise Your mercy. Amen.
Text: Ephesians 1:3-7
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.
Devotion
Yes, God be praised that we too have received a portion in the “glory of His grace!” Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, He has also “blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” He has also chosen us in Him, before the foundation of the world was laid, “that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.” He has given us His only-begotten Son, and by His blood redeemed us from death and the devil, admitted us into His fellowship, forgiven us our sins, created a new heart within us, shared spiritual light with us and keeps us by His power, until we reach the appointed goal, eternal salvation.
All believers are included in God’s “good pleasure which He purposed in Himself” (Eph 1:9), that Jews and Gentiles, as many as receive the call, shall be gathered into one house and be glorified in heavenly glory. Yes, all believers already “sit together in the heavenly places,” (Eph 2:6); for we stand together before the throne with the innumerable company of angels and the spirits of just men made perfect (Heb 12:22-24). Isn’t it in God’s House, in His service, before His face, in fellowship with the dear angels that we live and do all our work? And isn’t it heaven’s life that stirs in us with love and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit? But “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2Co 5:7). We see that we are on earth, but we believe that we are embraced by God’s love, born of His eternal plan of salvation and His divine power, surrounded by angels and the blessed human spirits as our family. And isn’t what God says more certain and more true than what we see? A thousand times more certain! So blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who chose us and saved us, and who called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own promise and grace, given to us in Christ Jesus from eternity!
Closing Prayer
My God, I feel my unworthiness within, but it was the good pleasure of Your will to appoint me to the election of atonement with Yourself by Jesus Christ. So by this grace I will serve You with my whole being. O help me to do this by Your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Hymn
O sing with exultation,
Sing to the Lord, rejoice!
And in His congregation
Shout with triumphant voice!
For, lo, at God’s right hand
Is Christ in glory seated;
With death and hell defeated,
As victor He doth stand.
To Thee, O Christ, be glory,
Who camest in His name!
Thy people sing the story
Thy praises to proclaim;
We thank Thee and adore,
O Christ, our Lord and Savior;
Thy grace and boundless favor
Stand fast forevermore.
Arrebo: O sing with exultation L 365:1.4 ELH 365:1.4 tr. C. Døving;
tune: Thomissøn