Thursday, 2 June 2011

Ephesians 1 -

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
   To God’s holy people in Ephesus,[a] the faithful in Christ Jesus:
 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ
 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship[c]through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
 11 In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
 15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
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FYI! Instead of creating so many blogs for the same scripture, I'll be modifying this post daily. 
Here goes the new reading plan, I'm so so so so so so so exited for it! Really though, I'm so exited. Hope you enjoy it too!


Day 1: Read the chapter. Journal a personal response to or summary of the chapter.

Just read those last verses again, 22 and 23. 
"And God placed ALL THINGS...". God the Father, our creator and perfect God, has given Jesus his son, everything, everywhere. He even has the keys to hell! Everything is subject to him, who is the head of a body. The head and the body make up one entity, with the head giving direction to the rest, never the less, one entity indeed. If we are his hands and feet and legs, knees, toes and elbows, this means we are an extension of him! This means we will receive everything he has received!


If I try to think about that inheritance, try to imagine what it will be like, there is nothing overly incredible going on in my brain. Its like my arts department is out of paint; my comprehension of this inheritance, this gift, is nil. 


I am amazed though, but not at myself: the lack of comprehension is what does it. The fact that something incredible is there; its a succulent anticipation. 


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Day 2: Read the chapter. Identify one or two key verses, and write them out.


1: 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 


2: 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.


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Day 3: Read yesterday’s key verses out loud. Journal why you chose them. Rewrite them.


Vs 6. - In everything we do, may it be turned to thanksgiving and praise! Our God has chosen us to be with him eternally, picking us up from death, mourning, wickedness; placing us in the realm of perfection; a life that is FULL of ernest hallelujah, complete satisfaction, constant awe and wonder. And to think, without Jesus Christ, none of us have the claim to this life in the slightest. For he gave his whole being through death and resurrection, unleashing the marvelous life in which God lives daily. Grace has come from Christ, for us, and it is completely free!


Vs 10. There will be and end to all suffering on this earth. All things that God had made perfect in the beginning, but had fell in to chaos because of sin, shall be made perfect again! Gathered under the order to one head of state, to be made organized as when a father organizes his family affairs. Jesus will reign supreme over all that God had made, and his kingdom will have no alienation amongst it. One ruler, one kingdom, and all people shall be of one family. And not only will Jesus bring unity to his people, but he will also restore order in the fallen matter of our Earth. Bringing out life freely from where it struggled to remain once before. All things in heaven and on earth, together under one, in complete unity.


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Day 4: Key verses aloud. Journal how they challenge you personally.

Ephesians 1:6 - ... to the praise of his glorious grace, with
which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

Right now, nothing super challenging about this verse it jumping
out at me. It is more like, I'm in confident waiting 
for it to be fulfilled entirely. 
When all things are reconciled, then God will  receive the praise
he deserves. We will be able to praise him and live in 
his presence 100% of the time!


Ephesians 1:10 - ... as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite
all things in him, in heaven and things on earth.

This verse is tricky. 
All of the failures, and upsets, and brokenness; all of this is
going to be fulfilled in God, it is all
going to be made right in his eyes and our eyes. There will no
longer be any holes in our hearts from past
torments, for he is going to serve up justice over heaven and
earth. Justice that will allow all of creation to sing and 
dance and praise because God has taken care of his family.






























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