June 3rd-Chosen
Journey through Ephesians
Ephesians 1.11-14 “in him we were also chosen”
Focus Verse– Ephesians 1.11
“11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,”
Insight-There is something special about being chosen. The idea implies intentionality, desire, pursuit, value-and all of these things are true of God’s choosing us. What makes it so amazing is that it’s not because we impressed God. Think back to kickball in the schoolyard, if it was up to you to choose people for your team, you chose the ones who would give you the best chance to win. God is different. He chooses the people whom HE gives the best chance to win. It’s all a part of his plan not some random game of chance or accident.
The Creator and Sustainer of the universe has a plan and everything will work out to the conformity of his will. What a great promise of security for those who are called to be his children! With that kind of security, we can learn to truly trust him for all of life, thus making a life that is lived in devotion to him, living out his image in us, can be quite natural.
Response and Action-Today, I will choose to live as one who is chosen. I will live with gratitude toward the one who deemed me choose-able. This is an attitude of humility towards God and those around me. I will choose to entrust myself to the Creator and Sustainer, allowing him to work his life and his love through me. By his grace, I am on the team so today I will be in the game.
Gracious Father, why You chose me is a mystery, but I will gladly accept. You have accepted me and given me belonging in Your family, as Your child. Give me the grace today to live as Your child and to live as a child who knows he is dearly loved by his Father. Yours by choice, amen.
what about verses 13 and 14.
“Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”
why so we need a guarentee? isn’t God’s word enough? I mean i’m glad he gave us the Holy Spirit…i guess why is the question, i just don’t get it.
Good question. The greek word is actually:
728 ἀρραβών [arrhabon /ar·hrab·ohn/] n m. Of Hebrew origin 6162; TDNT 1:475; TDNTA 80; GK 775; Three occurrences; AV translates as “earnest” three times. 1 an earnest. 1a money which in purchases is given as a pledge or downpayment that the full amount will subsequently be paid.
So it is more the idea of the first installment of our inheritance-our union with God and resulting restoration. I wonder if some of the things that Jesus talked about in John 14-16 might shed some light on that. Check it out and tell me what you think.