Today’s reading comes from Ephesians 1-3 follow the link provided here to read the ESV online.
Congratulations! We are on Day 60 which means we are 2/3 of the way through the New Testament and 2/3 of the way through the challenge! Keep it up! Hopefully reading through the scripture like this (and writing about it) is becoming a healthy habit for you!
Chapter one of Ephesians is one of the most wonderfully written descriptions of redemption in Christ. Paul immediately follows up his description of redemption with prayer (1:16). This theology (truth about how God saves us) provokes Paul to prayer and it should to provoke us to prayer as well. We should pray fro wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God (1:17-19). Paul wants his readers to know what is theirs in Christ (1:18).
I once was given a neat little remote control plane that had a few small propellers on the wings. I love to play with it. I couldn’t ever figure out how it would take off, it didn’t have any wheels. So I would throw the plane lightly and hit the throttle. One day a friend came over and I showed him the plane and how I flew fly it. He asked if he could have a turn. He flipped a switch, the wings changed direction and the plane took off like a helicopter. I was amazed. The plane had always had that ability. It was designed that way. All I needed to do was to flip the switch and a whole new feature of the plane would be accessible. Paul prays that those who read this letter wouldn’t be content to just play around with their faith in Christ, but that they would know fully about their salvation.
In chapter two Paul presses deeper into theology and worship. I say worship, because truth about God provokes our hearts to worship. In Chapter three Paul shares a brief testimony about his call to take the riches of the gospel to the gentiles and delights that they should know the fullness of their salvation.
FATHER, We thank you for the gift of faith and salvation in Jesus Christ. We pray that we would grow in our understanding of the faith. We lift up friends and family members who have publicly identified with you and we pray that they would increasingly grow in the knowledge of their faith as well. I ask for grace to teach and preach to your people all the wonders of your Word and I pray that the Holy Spirit would provoke worship in our hearts. Thank you for the grace it is to lead your church. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.
What did you take away from today’s reading? What are your thoughts or questions? Feel free to comment below and enter the discussion.
The Hill House 