Ephesians 1.1-6 (1)
Pray Psalm 42.1-3.
As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food day and night,
While they continually say to me,
“Where is your God?”
Sing Psalm 42.1-3
(Nettleton: Come Thou Fount)
As the deer pants for fresh water let my soul, LORD, pant for You!
Let my soul thirst as it ought to for the Savior, ever true!
Tears by day have been my portion, tears by night have been my food,
while my foes add to my sorrow, saying, “Where now is your God?”
Read Ephesians 1.1-6; meditate on verses 1, 2.
Read these verses slowly, over and over in silence. Focus on each noun—grace, peace, will, God, Jesus, and so on. What do you see? Listen in silence as the Holy Spirit illuminates the words of these verses. Are there any verbs here? Are any verbs implied? What desires or longings begin to rise in your heart? What new thoughts enter your mind? Jot them down, perhaps in the margin of your Bible or in a journal.
Preparation
1. How did Paul address the readers of this epistle?
2. What did he wish for them, that is, what was his purpose in writing?
Meditation
We had a pastor once who said he never went shopping with his wife because he couldn’t walk that slow. Get ready for a slow walk. A slow walk through one of the most important books in the New Testament. A slow and lingering walk to discover how God looks upon us and how we may look upon Him. How He regards His Church and what our role is in it. What we’re up against in seeking to know, love, and serve the Lord Jesus Christ. And what is promised to us by our always faithful and loving God.
These first two verses set the tone, content, and focus of the book of Ephesians. Paul invokes his authority as an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ and a servant of the will of God. Better listen up, huh? But then he reminds us how to think of ourselves. We know we’re wretched sinners. We fail the Lord constantly. Seems like we’re always confessing one lapse or setback or sinful act or another. And that’s true and as it should be. But we must always remember that we are saints—those who have been set apart out of the vast family of humankind, taken, extracted, removed, and repositioned to be a holy people unto God. Do you know who you are? You’re a saint! Receive it, embrace it, revel in it, live it.
Why is Paul writing? For the same reason Jesus has set us apart as saints, that we might know His grace and peace for every aspect of our lives. These wondrous and wholly enjoyable entities are in the Father and the Son only. And only as we are set apart by the Spirit and immersed in His Word can we hope to know them.
Not a bad first step, eh?
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“By the will of God” (Eph. 1.1).
We are His, by His will.
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
you are Mine…
For I AM the LORD your God,
the Holy One…your Savior;
I gave [Jesus] for your ransom…in your place.
Since you were precious in My sight,
you have been honored, and I have loved you.
Everyone who is called by My Name,
whom I have created for My glory;
I have formed him, yes,
I have made him” (Is. 43.2, 3, 4, 7).
His, faithfully, by His will.
“The eternal God is your refuge,
and underneath are the everlasting arms…
Happy are you…who is like you, a people saved by the LORD,
the shield of your help and the sword of your majesty!
Your enemies shall submit to you, and you shall tread down their high places” (Deut. 33.27, 29).
His, graciously and peacefully, by His will.
“But God demonstrates His Own love toward us,
in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5.8).
His saints, by His will.
“But you are a chosen generation,
a royal priesthood,
a holy nation,
His Own special people,
that you may proclaim the praises of Him
Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
who once were not a people but are now the people of God,
who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy” (1 Pet. 2.9, 10).
Loved, saved, and sent by His will. His saints.
“…sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints” (1 Cor. 1.2).
“For the LORD loves justice, and does not forsake His saints…” (Ps. 37.28).
“Saints? Us?” Indeed. By His will.
Reflection
1. God has set you apart for holiness. How are you pursuing holiness (2 Cor. 7.1)?
2. How would you explain to a new believer what it means to be called a saint?
3. Whom will you encourage today in their journey of sainthood?
Paul puts his name at the beginning so that it will be immediately apparent who has written the epistle. He mentions his calling not because he wants to boast but because the purpose of the whole epistle is to increase their knowledge of the true God, and he orders everything to that end. Therefore he refers to his authority and dignity because this serves his argument. Martin Bucer (1491-1551),Lectures on Ephesians
Pray Psalm 42.4-11.
Pray to see Jesus seeing you. Draw near to Him in prayer. Thank Him for Paul, for making you a saint, and for drawing you into His grace and peace. Commit your day to Him.
Sing Psalm 42.4-11.
(Nettleton: Come Thou Fount)
Now I pour my soul out in me as these thoughts come to my mind.
And I long to once again be where true worship I might find.
Oh my soul, be not despairing! Hope in God, and praise His Name!
For the LORD, your burden bearing, will restore your peace again.
Oh my God, my soul is weary, therefore I remember You.
Let Your grace and goodness near be, and Your promise, firm and true.
LORD, when trials and fears surround me, Your commands will be my song!
When distresses sore confound me, Your great love will keep me strong.
LORD, forget me not in mourning ’neath my foes’ oppressing hand.
See their mocking, hear their scorning; help my weary soul to stand.
Hope in God, praise Him forever when despair on you has trod.
Look to Jesus; never, never doubt your gracious, saving God.
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.
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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.
