Ephesians 1:3-6
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:3-6 (NRSVUE)
The words from our old red Martin Luther catechism came to mind – “I believe that God has created me and all that exists,” and that God “provides abundantly…, and does this purely out of fatherly and divine goodness and mercy without any merit or worthiness in me.”
God created us. God loved us before we were born, we belong to God. Just as earthly parents anticipate the birth of a child and plan for the birth, God has a plan for us. We are to be “his children through Jesus Christ.” We did nothing and can do nothing to merit that love. We can do nothing to merit God’s grace.
God chose us to be “holy and blameless.” We fall far short of that, but God did one more thing for us – God sent his Beloved Son, Jesus to die for us. Alleluia!
Questions for Reflection:
- Do you think you belong to God
- Are there people that you think do not belong to God? Why, or why not? How do we change that?
Prayer
Thank you, God, for all your creation. Help us to recognize you in others. Amen.
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