Today I’m sharing some of the most impactful things I have learned while studying Ephesians 1. I’d love it if you told me what most affected you from this chapter!
Season One
I really like TV. I know I probably shouldn’t say that. Because “good” Christians don’t watch TV. But here I am, admitting that I like TV. I watch a lot less TV than I did before I became a mom. (For obvious reasons.) And my TV consumption has gotten more picky as I’ve matured in my faith. I’ve come to understand the importance of what I put into my mind, even passively. (Which is a different topic altogether.)
Have you ever been watching TV and been several seasons in and thought: How’d we even get here? Then you wrack your brain for what happened in those early episodes. Or you go back and rewatch the first season. (I’m specifically remembering watching Lost all those years ago.)
Maybe you have a favorite show that you watch all the way through to the series finale and then cycle right back to season 1, episode 1. (The Office, anyone??) Suddenly you see how the whole series fit together. Then, you revel in the nostalgic beauty that is that very first episode. It perfectly lays the stage for the whole plot.
Sometimes it pays off to go back to the beginning and remember how the whole plot started.
Ephesians 1: God’s Redemptive Plan
Paul does this same thing in the opening chapter of Ephesians.
If you read my Ephesians primer, you know he is addressing believers in the ancient city of Ephesus. Paul kicks off his letter by going all the way back to the beginning. Or in this case, the prequel to the beginning. Before he begins giving instructions for Christian living, he answers the question: How did we get here? He takes readers all the way back to Season One to give them a fuller appreciation of the greater plot that has and is still taking shape.
Paul starts by reminding his readers (including you and me) where the path of redemption and rightness with God started.
You might be tempted to say that God’s redemptive plan started immediately after the first sin took place in the Garden of Eden. Paul, however paints a different picture.
You see, Paul tells us God’s plan for us started before sin. Ephesians 1 tells us this plan started before the Garden, even before Genesis 1.
…just as He chose us in Him [Christ] before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.
Ephesians 1:4, emphasis mine
Do you see the timeline?! God chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless before the foundation of the world. Before sin ever entered the picture God had already chosen to make a way for us to be right with Him. There has never, even for one second, been a time that God didn’t have a plan for us to be with Him.
He knew sin was a possibility. But that doesn’t matter. Before the earth was created. Before Adam lost a rib, God had already decided that we could stand blameless before Him, if we stand before Him in Christ.
Decided Beforehand
In love, He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will…
Ephesians 1:5 emphasis mine
Yikes. Predestined. That’s a scary, hot-button word. If we aren’t careful we can get into fruitless debates about the P-word. Don’t go there. The word predestined here is the Greek word proorizō, meaning “decided beforehand.” Let’s stick with that definition.
Not only did God choose us to be right before Him through Jesus, he also decided beforehand that we would be adopted as His children (and all the good things that come with being someone’s child.) We aren’t just nameless people able to stand blameless before a judge. We are God’s own children.
In love God decided beforehand that we would be:
fully adopted (1:5)
given grace (1:6)
redeemed and forgiven (1:7)
given an inheritance (1:11, 14)
sealed by the Holy Spirit (1:13)
And all of this was decided according to God’s kind intentions.
God’s Kind Intentions
Here’s another thing I hate to admit. I’ve believed a lot of lies in my lifetime. One of the most damaging lies I have believed is that God’s intentions are not always kind.
I don’t know if I would have come out and said that I thought God was unkind. My thoughts on God’s character were tangled and confused and incorrect. What I believed about God’s character is too confusing to put into words right here in a way that you might understand. What I can tell you is that my behavior and thoughts did not reflect a heart that believed God is kind.
As with lots of deeply ingrained lies, I must remain diligent to dispel it any time it creeps back into my mind and my heart.
There are many places in Scripture we can turn to, to gain an understanding of God’s character, but Ephesians 1 has become my favorite. This chapter concisely tells us who God is and what His will looks like.
When I am tempted to believe that God is not kind, or that He should not be kind to me, I turn here.
I look at the verb trail and the timeline.
We see evidence of God’s kind intentions in how He made a way for us to be fully right and fully reconciled to Him before the earth was ever formed. Before we could ever do anything to earn or lose His kindness.
The Mystery of God’s Will
He did more than just make a way for us. He also let us in on the mystery of His will. Look at verse 9.
He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him [Christ}…
Ephesians 1:9 emphasis mine
I can tend to have a selfish view of “God’s will.” (Maybe I’m not the only one?) When I talk about God’s will, I’m often referring to God’s specific will for me. I have been known to search high and low for His will–thinking that it is a grand mystery He is hiding from me…and if I could figure it out my life would be easier and more streamlined. (I told you I had confusing ideas about God’s character.) But Paul is telling us that God’s will is bigger than where we go to college or what job we plan to pursue.
Don’t get me wrong, those things matter to God….but don’t make my mistake. Don’t become too blinded by selfishness to see the grander, greater mystery at work.
God’s ultimate will is that we know Him. The mystery of God’s will is not whether I will write a book, have more children, get a “real” job or die of a moose attack in North Dakota. The most mysterious thing about God’s will is how a perfect, pure, wonderful God could ever reconcile sinful mortals to Himself.
The mystery has already been made known: that we can be right with God through the work Jesus did on our behalf. A work that was carried out because ultimately, God’s intentions toward us are kind.
God is kind.
Our Part
God decided before the foundation of the world that anyone who came to Him through Jesus would be holy, blameless and adopted. Our job is simply to go to Him in Christ, to accept the plan and put our faith in Jesus.
I hope you’ve already made that decision and this is just a nostalgic reminder of Season 1. But if not, now is a great time to accept God’s kind intention toward you. Step into His plan. He made a way for you to get to God through Jesus. It’s a mystery, but boy is it sweet.
Wanna listen to this post instead of reading it? I don't blame you. Just sign up and its all yours. Total transparency, I don't really know how to do much with the email addresses of those who sign up...so I'll only contact you if its something I really, really think you'll be in to.
Sweet Success.
If you’ve met me for even half a minute, I’ve likely told you that I hate moving. Like I hate it with a capital H. Which is really too bad, because the life I find myself in requires moves. And lots of them.
It’s not that I dislike the tediousness of the packing. Or that I worry my things will get broken. Or the drag of relocating. Or even fear that I’ll never find another friend ever again.
To be honest, to tell you why I hate moving so much would be really complicated, because I’m not exactly sure why myself. It’s a topic that I’m sure you’ll hear more about in the coming days, months, years (if you keep letting me jabber your ear off.) You’ll hear more about it because the thought of moving touches my heart in a way that very few things do. I love being part of a commuity. Taking part in annual events. Being present in the lives of others. Having those same people present in my life. The opportunity to do a good work that takes time and trust. I crave friends that I’ll be able to be with face to face for more than just three years at a time. (That’s our average stay.)
God has wired me to have a strong connection to home and a yearning to settle in, lay deep roots and crave stability.
All that may seem counterintuitive, since Jesus Himself spoke of not having a place to lay His head. In fact lots of people called by God have found themselves to be wanderers.
But alas…here I am, kicking and fighting against the nomadic life. And after advice, books, prayer, and even paid counseling (which addressed more than just my hatred of moving)–I find that my desire to stay put has very much remained intact. So I’ve drawn the conclusion that this is part of who God has made me to be. It’s my red hottest of hot button issues.
You see–no matter how many times I get yanked out by the roots, I remain optimistic that this next place could (maybe) be my forever home. So I get involved. I get committed. A classic, “You jump, I jump,” situation. (Thank you, thank you to anyone who got that reference.) I volunteer and learn the culture (and in some cases the accordion.) I pick up the slang and a little bit of the accent. I never really care where it is–even if it’s the place no one wants to live (yes, I’m talking about North Dakota)…I just want to stay and never leave.
Total transparency. It’s what I cry my most tears over. It’s what I find myself laying on the kitchen floor over. (That’s often where I do my most pathetic crying.) It’s what I pray about. Stressing over it is what derails my hopes and dreams and ambitions. It paralyzes me with fear sometimes. It’s just about the only thing that stirs up a heated “discussion” between Derek and me. Sometimes it steals my sleep. Sometimes it steals my appetite. More than once I’ve let it steal my peace.
And as you read this–you may think I’m totally crazy. Because to you moving is no big deal. Or -gasp- maybe it’s even something you like to do. That’s totally cool. We can still be friends. In fact…please bottle up some of your bravery and send it to me.
But I bet there is something in your life that causes a similar reaction. Maybe. The symptoms may not be the same. But I’m sure you have a red hottest hot button in your own heart. A metaphorical thorn in the flesh or pebble in your Chacos.
After years (it’s been nearly ten now) of fighting and clawing against my hot button, I’m finally starting to taking a different view. If I’ve tried earnestly all this time to shake it without success, maybe it’s part of who God created me to be. I’ve come to believe that this…one of my biggest weaknesses…is not only a curse. If a stay-putter, craver-of-stability, home-body is part of who God has created me to be, then even this weakness can be a strength for His glory and His Kingdom.
Hear me here. God doesn’t want me living in stress and fear about the day Derek will tell me we’re moving–again. In the narrative of our lives, God is never, EVER the bad guy. Satan would like us to believe that God is setting us up for failure and heartache, by placing these hot buttons in our hearts. But Satan’s identity is lies. He is lies personified and we must be cognizant enough to identify him, deny him and turn our faces back to the Truth.
Let’s transform the way we think about our hot buttons. If God doesn’t intend me to be heart sick–why would He wire me with such a strong longing for home?
Maybe so I will continually need to rest in His stability. Maybe because that desire enables me to establish myself in a community oddly quickly–an asset to a girl who finds herself in a new town every few years. Maybe because that yearning for forever friends means I quickly invest in the lives of those around me. Maybe so I can empathize with others who find themselves away from family. Or so I empathize with those who long to have a place to belong. My optimism about staying put enourages me to continue dreaming, and takes away my fear of making friends.
The truth is, God has equipped me for the unique work He has tasked me with by wiring me to long for stability and crave a forever home. This weakness of mine becomes an asset when placed in God’s hands. It allows me to point back to Him, rely on Him and minister to His people in ways I simply could not if the weakness didn’t exist.
I believe He has equipped you too.
Satan would have us be ashamed of our red hot heart buttons. But if we are in Christ, we have no more shame. None. That means no shame in our weaknesses. And no shame in the things God has created us to care about (**please take a quick note here…God will never wire you to care for/yearn for something that the Bible tells us is against His will or Word.)
It’s time we transform our thinking. Let’s take the things that we consider weaknesses, and instead of brushing them under the rug–take them out, hold them up for the word to see and proclaim them for the glory of God. When we do this, Satan loses all power over our weakness. God can and will bring glory to Himself through our weakness. I firmly believe God will use the side effects of your red hot heart button to better equip you for the work He’d like to task you with. You be you. Own it like a boss. No shame. And be confident in God’s ability to bring good to you and those around you.
I AM AMY AND I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY HATE MOVING.
That’s me proclaiming/admitting my weakness and being confident that God is/will use it for His good purpose. Now it’s your turn. Take some time to identify some major weaknesses or heart issues in your life. Pray over them. In what unique ways has God wired you with weakness? How can you transform your thinking about those qualities to understand that God will use them for His glory? How might God be using them already?
But don’t just believe me. Check out this classic quote from Paul. You may have read it before. But read it anew tonight. Are you reading God’s Words, or really believing them for your life? **Remember, Scripture is always best read in context. I encourage you to click over and read the verses around–or the chapter…or whole book while you’re at it–to make sure you are understanding the true meaning of the verses.**
2 Corinth 12: 9-10 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
The Bible shows us the very nature of God. You can look at it pretty much verse by verse and critically think about what just that one tiny piece of Scripture says about the nature of God. When we do this, we find all kinds of answers; because God is not simple. He is complicated and righteous. He is everything and the Creator of everything.
I think, though, at the root of the nature of God lies His desire to be relational with His creation. From the very beginning when He walked in the Garden with Adam and Eve, to Jesus’ life on earth to clear the connection between man and Creator, to the well written ending of mortal existence…a second coming of Christ that will forever allow God and man to live together again. Even the complicated sacrifice system of the Old Testament was a way for people to maintain a relationship with God.
He desires us and pursues us. Even when we don’t desire Him and don’t pursue Him. He speaks to us before we have committed to listening. He tries to get our attention. God wants to be relational.
God does this in all kinds of ways. I’ve seen it happen to others. It’s happened to me. I’ve sat down to coffee and listened to others relay a story of how it has happened to them. He uses people, or circumstances, or disaster, and all kinds of other things. God is not silent. He longs for you. He is jealous for you. He is jealous of all the other things in your life that come first, and He will continue to pursue you until the end. He wants to be relational with you. Really.
And, like a lot of things in life, it comes down to a choice. Will you listen? Will I listen? Are we willing to pay attention?
The youth group is studying the book of Amos right now. As I’ve read it and reread it–trying to get a handle on the text in order to field questions as they crop up–one thing really stood out to me. And that is the communication God laid out before the Israelites.
In Amos, God speaks to His people, and He doesn’t have nice things to say. They are being judged for their ugly, evil ways. For oppressing the poor, greed, worshiping idols, and the like. Sometimes, it’s easy to think that we can continue living however we like, conforming to the ways of a fallen world. But that’s a dangerous way to live. Amos proves it. The Israelites were God’s chosen people, but even they could not escape judgement that held them accountable for their deeds.
But judgement didn’t come out of nowhere. Through the prophet Amos, God lists the ways He tried to get their attention, to stop things before they got out of hand. Famine, drought, drought on one town and rain on another, diseased harvests, bugs, plagues, war, and prophets speaking His words were all ways He tried to get their attention. Opportunities to turn to Him for help, to recognize their need for His grace. Yet, they didn’t listen. It’s so easy for me to be in awe of their deaf ears…but in my own life this happens too!
Now, He says, judgement will come. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. He beckons them to “Seek me and live.” {Reference} He urges them to turn away from pagan gods and return to Him. He calls them to life, back to a relationship with the Living God. He lists their transgressions, they can easily see what needs to be done to remove His wrath. In Revelation, He tells us that He rebukes and disciplines those whom He loves. {Reference} Much like a parent disciplines a child, not from hatred, but lovingly. Discipline is not a bad thing.
For me, this kind of slap-in-the-face insolence would be enough to send me packing. To break ties and forget about giving any more second chances. Not so with God. He will never stop pursuing us. Ever. That’s pretty incredible. No one is too far gone, no one is beyond the offer of hope. At the end of the book, after listing their awful deeds and sinful heart issues, God tells His people that He will restore them. He will continue to offer them life, love and a relationship with the Most High. Again, from Revelation He says: {image via}
God wants a relationship.
So my questions for you tonight are this: Has He been trying to get your attention lately? And, what will you do about it? Will you listen, or will His call fall on deaf ears?
Renew your zeal for the Bible with three days of exclusive devotionals! Interesting and relevant writings and reflection questions will remind you why the Word of God is so awesome. You'll learn a lot and you'll leave excited to know God more and grow deeper in your faith.
Your kick-start is on the way!
You've always dreamed of reading the Bible in chronological order. Now you can!
Getting my printable PDF plan is easy. It's not fancy, but it does fold easily into a bookmark, so you can keep it close by and easily see what's coming next. I hope you find it as useful as I do.
**Remember to check your PROMOTIONS FOLDER. Even if your confirmation comes to your normal inbox, the actual download may come to that pesky promotions folder instead!**
To be honest, to tell you why I hate moving so much would be really complicated, because I’m not exactly sure why myself. It’s a topic that I’m sure you’ll hear more about in the coming days, months, years (if you keep letting me jabber your ear off.) You’ll hear more about it because the thought of moving touches my heart in a way that very few things do. I love being part of a commuity. Taking part in annual events. Being present in the lives of others. Having those same people present in my life. The opportunity to do a good work that takes time and trust. I crave friends that I’ll be able to be with face to face for more than just three years at a time. (That’s our average stay.)
