Ephesians 1.11-14 (2)
Pray Psalm 34.3, 8, 9.
Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together…
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
Sing Psalm 34.3, 8, 9.
(Alleluia [Lowe]: Mighty God, While Angels Bless You)
Taste and see how good is Jesus; blessed are all who in Him hide.
None shall lack for any blessing who in Christ will e’er confide.
Refrain v. 3
Magnify the Name of Jesus!
Let us lift His Name in praise!
Read Ephesians 1.11-14; meditate on verse 11, the phrase “works all things”.
What all is implied in the phrase “all things”? How does God “work” “all things”? Where do you fit into His working of all things?
Preparation
1. What does God do?
2. What is the basis for what He does?
Meditation
Paul describes God as “working”. He works “all things”. It’s not just that God has made all things so that they work as they should, as if He set the cosmos running and then just allows it to it take its course. The matter of the cosmos has no strength within itself to continue itself. It behaves in certain ways not because that’s just what any particular piece of matter does, but because God “works” it. He makes it work. Every detail of the vast cosmos. None of it would continue to exist if God weren’t continually on the job.
The sense of the participle, ἐνεργοῦντος, energountos, is ongoing, continual. God is always working, always at work, always making things be and do what He created them to be and do. The writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus, the Word of God, upholds the cosmos and everything in it (Heb. 1.3); that is, He keeps it “running” by His powerful Word. And here is a mystery we can in no way fathom. Jesus speaks to the cosmos an immaterial and spiritual word, and the cosmos keeps on keeping on.
There is nothing in our lives that God is not “working”. The breath we draw, the beat of our heart, the body-building and body-cleansing activity of our cells, the work of our souls—all of this God is working. In every one of us. At every moment. We have plenty of reasons to celebrate the goodness of God each day.
That “all things” sometimes turns out to be something we might like to send back to the kitchen. But God is good and whatever He does is good, whether we see the good in it or not. Thus, come what may, give thanks and praise to our all-good, all-wise, and all-powerful God. He knows what He’s doing, and He’s doing everything for our good (Rom. 8.28).
Can you rest peacefully in that?
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.16
From God we have an inheritance
that was predestined before the beginning of time—
according to the purpose of Him
Who works all things
according to the counsel of His will (Eph. 1.11).
And if that is not amazing enough, God works and molds and nudges and forms and tenders us in accordance with the gifts He has given us. He works to make us like Himself.
We are always on His mind. He never lets us go and He will never leave nor forsake us (Heb. 13.5).
Jesus prays for us and made “intercession for the transgressors” (Is. 53.12).
“The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.
For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought,
but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us
with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Now He Who searches the hearts
knows what the mind of the Spirit is,
because He makes intercession for the saints
according to the will of God” (Rom. 8.26, 27).
“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost
those who come to God through Him,
since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7.25).
“I pray for them.
I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.
And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I AM glorified in them…
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your Word is truth…
I do not pray for these alone,
but also for those who will believe in Me through their word…” (Jn. 17.9, 10, 17, 20).
It is His good pleasure, work, and will to do this.
We will rest peacefully in this glorious truth.
Reflection
1. How does God work through your works? What is He seeking by this?
2. How should we respond to the knowledge that God works “all things”?
3. Where can we learn to discover the “counsel of His will” to help us in understanding His works?
Paul is right to teach us to conclude that these things are part of God’s will, because his works must all be regarded as proceeding from his will. Because that will is holy, just and good, it cannot do anything bad, criminal or ungodly. Heinrich Bullinger (1504-1575), Commentary on Ephesians
Pray Psalm 34.1-7.
Praise God for His goodness. Thank Him for hearing your prayers, for shining His glory in and through you, for hearing your troubles and needs, and for sending His angels to guard you throughout the day.
Sing Psalm 34.1-7.
(Alleluia [Lowe]: Mighty God, While Angels Bless You)
I will bless the LORD at all times; I shall praise Him evermore!
My soul makes its boast in Jesus—Him we gladly all adore!
Refrain v. 3
Magnify the Name of Jesus! Let us lift His Name in praise!When I sought the LORD, He answered and from fear delivered me.Those who look to Him are radiant; shamed their face shall never be.
Refrain
When I cried to God, He heard me, and from trouble rescued me.’Round their camp His angel lingers that they may delivered be.
Refrain
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: In our ReVision series on “The Kingdom Economy” we begin looking at commerce from a Kingdom perspective. Our Read Moore podcast continues readings from the book, Such a Great Salvation. Our Crosfigell series on Brendan of Clonfert finds the saint beginning his second voyage to find The Promised Land of the Saints. Click here to 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.
