Ephesians 1:3 from today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan:
3 May blessing (praise, laudation, and eulogy) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly realm!
Notice that this verse says that HE has ALREADY blessed us with EVERY (ALL) blessings! Our God planned, from before the foundation of the world, which also means BEFORE He had ever created mankind, to bless us this way! How do I know this? Verses 4-10:
4 Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love. 5 For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]— 6 [So that we might be] to the praise and the commendation of His glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor, 8 Which He lavished upon us in every kind of wisdom and understanding (practical insight and prudence), 9 Making known to us the mystery (secret) of His will (of His plan, of His purpose). [And it is this:] In accordance with His good pleasure (His merciful intention) which He had previously purposed and set forth in Him, 10 [He planned] for the maturity of the times and the climax of the ages to unify all things and head them up and consummate them in Christ, [both] things in heaven and things on the earth.
Our God KNEW that mankind would eventually fall. He already had His plan in place for our Salvation, to buy us back, and then to put His Spirit IN us so that we could be His forever! Why did He do it this way? Because He did NOT want us to be robots who were programmed to follow Him. He wanted us to be able to make the personal and individual choice to do this so that WHEN we did, it would be of our own free will and because we wanted to. Our love for Him is genuine, individual and on purpose! HIS love for us is eternal! All of these wonderful blessings are OURS as members of His family! Now THAT is something to go back to verse 3 and really praise Him for! With our whole hearts! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Grace To Grace":
Shalom in Him!
