God . . . has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3
Today’s Scripture
Ephesians 1:3-14
Listen to Today’s Devotion
Today’s Devotion
While out walking the family dog, my nephew Andy was hit by a car. Someone saw the accident and stopped to give him CPR and call for an ambulance. A ventilator kept him alive for a week. Miraculously, he was weaned off the sedation medicines and vent the day after Christmas and told his wife, parents, brother, and five children, “I love you.” Emotions and hope soared! But the very next day, he died.
All of his children, ages fifteen to twenty-one, spoke through their tears at his God-honoring memorial service. Daughter Julia read a quote that made those in attendance think: “It’s not about how much we lost. It’s about how much we have left.”
But the truth is, those of us who knew and loved him lost so much with Andy’s passing—a beautiful life lived for Jesus—and he’s greatly missed. What do we have left that gives us hope? Ephesians 1 speaks of the spiritual blessings Andy and other believers have in Jesus: We’re “blameless in his sight” (v. 4), “predestined . . . for adoption to sonship” (v. 5), “[redeemed] through his blood” (v. 7), and “[forgiven] of sins [by] God’s grace” (v. 7). “The promised Holy Spirit” lives in us and guarantees “our inheritance” with Him in the life to come (vv. 13-14).
Those who love Jesus have His gift of eternal salvation.
Reflect & Pray
What have you lost? If you’re grieving, how much do you have left that you can thank God for?
Father God, please comfort me and enable me to depend on Your promises.
Today’s Insights
To encourage believers in Jesus to live godly lives in an ungodly world (Ephesians 4:1, 17), Paul begins this letter by reminding us how much God loves us and in Christ has “blessed us with every spiritual blessing” (1:3). Through Jesus, we’re chosen, redeemed, forgiven, saved, and adopted as His children into His family, destined to be His heirs. Distinctively marked and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we’re graciously cared for and given all that we need to live God-honoring lives as His children (vv. 3-14). Whatever challenges or trials we may face, and whatever losses and pain we may suffer, our heavenly Father “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,” for “his power . . . is at work within us” (3:20).
For further study, read: Personal Relationship with God
