Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined …
Summary: Being “chosen” and “predestined” might sound like a contradiction, but only from a human point of view. God’s point of view of our lives is quite different.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:11a – The Predestined Choice”… to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
Summary: Paul’s words reveal a lot about his thinking. While we can’t see into his mind, we can glimpse how he sees the world and our role in it.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:10b – A World At War”… to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment …
Summary: Paul gives us a lot of information in the opening lines of his letter to the Ephesians. Unfortunately, we cannot ask Paul to clarify what he wrote in this life. (I will have questions for him when I see him in heaven!)
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:10a – What Paul Knows”… according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,
Summary: Words can be tricky! Today’s meditation looks at the word “purposed” to try and understand what the purpose of “purposed” is.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:9b – Cross Purposes”… he made known to us the mystery of his will …
Summary: Some mysteries can be solved with good detective work. Others, like the mystery of God’s will, is beyond us, until God, in his timing, decides to explain.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:9a – More Mystery”… he made known to us the mystery of his will …
Summary: Life is full of mysteries. Some of them are important to acknowledge. One is the mystery of our existence.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:9a – Monumentally Gullible”With all wisdom and understanding …
Summary: Paul points us to God’s wisdom and understanding and in doing so, points to our own need for them as well.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:8 – The Key to Wisdom”… in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.
Summary: Paul has a detailed way of conveying his thoughts. Sometimes his meanings can be lost in the words. It is worth stopping to ponder what Paul is saying and think about the story behind the words.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:7c – The Pardon”… through his blood, the forgiveness of sins …
Summary: Blood holds a unique place in Scripture and life. We cannot live without it. In the salvation narrative, blood is both the price of salvation and the symbol of salvation.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:7b – The Big Death”In him we have redemption …
Summary: What does it mean to be redeemed? When it comes to spiritual matters, we may never fully understand them. But we can know this much; we need it!
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:7a – The Day God Died”