The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Ephesians 1:11-12,
"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, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory."
Here Paul speaks of the first Jewish believers of the early church as being among those who would bring praise to God's glory. In the following verse, 13, Paul finds the inclusion of the Gentiles as a part of this group as God has chosen all those who will embrace him in faith, those who "heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance..."
What catches my eye this morning is that what I see in verse 11. God's choosing of those who would embrace him in faith is something he decided beforehand. He predestined this, "according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will". We may have our plans, our desires, but God has his own. It is this that will take place because he is the one who has purposed it. I read here that God, "works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will", not mine. God has his own agenda.
God does exactly what he says he will do. In this passage we are told these decisions God made were made before the time of creation, verse 4. Our God knows all, and is all-powerful. There is simply nothing that can or will stand in opposition to that will. Many will try. The deceitfulness of Satan, the rebelliousness of man's heart are always attempting to thwart the will of God. How futile!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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