Ephesians 1.1-6 (5)
Pray Psalm 48.1-3.
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised
In the city of our God,
In His holy mountain.
Beautiful in elevation,
The joy of the whole earth,
Is Mount Zion on the sides of the north,
The city of the great King.
God is in her palaces;
He is known as her refuge
Sing Psalm 48.1-3.
(Cwm Rhondda: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah)
Great is God, now greatly praise Him in the city of the LORD!
Holy she, His lovely mountain, great and glorious by His Word!
God her King is great within her, He, her Stronghold ever sure!
He, her Stronghold ever sure!
Read Ephesians 1.1-6; meditate on verse 5.
Preparation
1. What two spiritual blessings are mentioned here?
2. What does this result in for us?
Meditation
The first of the spiritual blessings that are stored up for us in heavenly places in Christ Jesus is election. God chose us in Jesus before the foundation of the world. Amazing! The second and third spiritual blessings are just as amazing.
God not only chose us, He made sure we would make it into Jesus by predestinating us to that end. Now predestination is as great a mystery as election. We cannot fully grasp it. All we know is that God is so intent on His chosen ones coming into His household that He shepherds them every step of the way into saving grace. Even before we knew Him!
And then, when the Spirit comes to give us a new heart and faith to call God “Abba” (Gal. 4.4-6), He adopts us into His household, His family. What’s that like. Imagine if I drove down to the City Building here in Essex Junction and told the receptionist I wanted to complete an adoption. She would show me to the right person to whom I would present the papers. Then I’d reach into my pocket and pull out a worm. “I’d like to adopt this worm,” I say.
This is what God has done. He has adopted worms like you and me into His household, first, because He chose us, second, because He predestined us to this end, and third, because He sent His Spirit to seal our adoption papers (Eph. 1.14).
Why would God care so much about us? It pleased Him, and it was His will. And that’s all we need to know.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“God…
having predestined us
to adoption
as sons
by Jesus Christ
to Himself,
according to
the good pleasure
of His will…”
(Eph. 1.5).
“But I am a worm, and not man;
a reproach of men, and
despised by the people” (Ps. 22.6).
“You will show me the path of life;
in Your Presence is fullness of joy;
at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Ps. 16.11).
“The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him,
in those who hope in His mercy” (Ps. 147.11).
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God,
to those who are the called according to His purpose.
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son,
that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called;
whom He called, these He also justified; and
whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Rom. 8.28-30).
This truly is a mysterious miracle of His grace.
“This is what God has done.
He has adopted worms like you and me into His household,
first, because He chose us,
second, because He predestined us to this end, and
third, because He sent His Spirit to seal our adoptions papers.”
Alas! And did my Savior bleed, and did my Sovereign die!
Would He devote that sacred head for such a worm as I!
Was it for crimes that I had done He groaned upon the tree!
Amazing pity! Grace unknown! And love beyond degree!
Thus might I hide my blushing face while His dear cross appears:
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness, and melt mine eyes in tears.
But drops of grief can ne’er repay the debt of love I owe;
Here, Lord, I give myself away, ’tis all that I can do.
(Isaac Watts, 1707)
Yes, Lord, dissolve my heart in thankfulness for Your gracious gift—elected, predestined, and adopted.
Reflection
1. How do you experience the Lord continuing to shepherd you along your way?
2. How would you explain the spiritual blessing of adoption to a new believer?
3. How does knowing God is your Father affect the way you read Scripture?
In love [those who are chosen] were predestinated, or fore-ordained, to be adopted as children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, and to be openly admitted to the privileges of that high relation to himself. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Ephesians 1.5
Pray Psalm 48.4-14.
God is greater, more wondrous, more loving, and more powerful than we know. Thank Him for shepherding you into His household. Call on Him for strength to be His ambassador today.
Sing Psalm 48.4-14.
(Cwm Rhondda: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah)
Earthly kings, amazed and wond’ring, look upon the Church with fear.
See them flee in dread and anguish, knowing that the LORD is near.
For the city of the Savior, God will keep forevermore!
God will keep forevermore!
For Your grace and lovingkindness we proclaim Your matchless worth!
As Your Name is, great and boundless, let Your praise fill all the earth.
Let Your people sing rejoicing for the judgment of Your truth;
for the judgment of Your truth.
Walk about the blessèd city, see her beauty, see her power.
Count her ramparts, filled with glory, look on every mighty tower.
Tell her glory to the nations: God will guide her evermore;
God will guide her evermore!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest this week: Our ReVision series on “The Kingdom Economy” turns to consider the unique “currency” of the divine economy. In our Read Moore podcast this week, we begin a new series of readings from our book, Such a Great Salvation. Our Crosfigell series on Brendan of Clonfert finds him heading back to Ireland, confused and disappointed—but faithful. Click hereto see all the other columns and writers available to you.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
