God’s thoughts of His creation are not ours He created the earth and said it was good…we have made it into something quite different from His original plan!
Isaiah 55:8-9
For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
God’s thoughts are way beyond ours and He doesn’t want anyone to live forever without Him. He knows everything, good or bad, and He controls everything. He will use the tough times in our lives that could have destroyed us spiritually for our eternal good. The Word of God will always do what He wants to do. With joy in our salvation, we have hope and peace because we know His promises are sure.
Ephesians 1:11-14 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
In Christ, we have become part of the Body of Christ, a beautiful display of God’s glory for those who first trusted in Jesus. And we have been entrusted to the care of the Holy Spirit, who’s working his guidance daily to shape us into the image of His beloved Son. How amazing is His work in our lives!
2 Timothy 1:9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
God’s power saved us. Each of us, as believers, has a special role to play, one that He has been working out in us from the start. Carla
Reflecting Paul’s own ethnicity, “we” likely refers to Jews—God’s chosen people (in the Old Testament) and those from whom the Messiah came. This means that “you” often refers to Gentiles (non-Jews), including most of the believers in Ephesus and the surrounding areas. From the Jewish perspective, this likely refers to the salvation brought about by the Jewish Messiah, Jesus. Glory denotes honor and majesty. Paul stresses that the same inheritance God gave to Jews is also made available to non-Jews according to God’s revealed mystery. The word of truth refers to the gospel message, explained in the following clause as “the gospel (euangelion) of your salvation.” This is the message about the Messiah, Jesus, which was originally proclaimed to Jews and later embraced by Gentiles.
You were sealed in the ancient world indicated ownership and protection. Sealed believers will be kept for their ultimate inheritance—redemption at the end of the age—by the gift of the promised Spirit), which is given to Jews and Gentiles alike.
Sphragizō, “To Seal” The gift of the Holy Spirit not only empowers believers to live holy lives, but also serves as a guarantee and reminder that God will one day fully complete His work in believers.
Inheritance refers to the complete experience of the salvation that God promises to His people but which they have yet to receive in full. This experience culminates in their redemption upon Jesus’ return. Faithlife Study Bible
The mystery is not a puzzle to solve, or knowledge only for the few and the initiated, as in the mystery religions of Paul’s day. In Paul’s usage, the word mystery refers to an aspect of God’s will that was once hidden or obscure, but now was being revealed by God (Romans 11:25).
The word translated dispensation means “house rule.” The English word economy is derived from this Greek word. The word refers to God’s administration or arrangement of all history to fulfill His plan of salvation. While God never changes, His plan for the salvation of humanity has distinct phases. In this context, dispensation probably refers to the time when God will establish His eternal kingdom. The seal or mark of ownership in believers’ lives is the Holy Spirit. The guarantee of our inheritance is the Holy Spirit Himself. Interestingly, the Greek word for guarantee can also be used to indicate an engagement ring. As Christ is the Bridegroom and the church is the bride, so the Holy Spirit is the down payment, the earnest money, in the long-awaited marriage of the two (Revelation 19:7, 8).
The purchased possession in the Old Testament is the nation of Israel as God’s special treasure, one He had purchased by His mighty acts of deliverance during the Exodus (Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 7:6).
Paul describes Christians as the Lord’s own possession, one bought with the blood of His own Son. NKJ Study Bible.
Ephesians 1:5–7 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved…
Colossians 1:5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,
2 Corinthians 1:22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Romans 8:28–30 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren
Be gentle with yourself.
And listen to the still small voice of Grace.
Sabbath Moments
We can't find our way home alone (Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:23). We all need rescue.
That's why Jesus stepped into our darkness to offer us an everlasting light! This is the good news: "The light has come into the world" to cast out darkness and display God's glory (John 3:19).
I'm reminded daily that without God's Holy Spirit working in and through my heart, I would keep choosing darkness.
How thankful I am for Jesus, who shines a spotlight on the path to abundant life! Living by faith in Jesus brings peace and clarity. He illuminates the dark corners of our hearts that need healing, restoring us with grace and mercy. First5
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:2, 6
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