Essays in Ephesians #3
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ. Ephesians 1: 7–9 ESV
When we look upon the mystery of the cross, we can be confident in God’s love. He knows exactly what’s going on, always. His solutions are wise; His outcomes eternal. In the cross we see that when situations look dark, we don’t have to know it all. We can, like Jesus, trust in God and continue to love. Humility, obedience and grace to love are God’s plan. Thank you, Father, thank you that Jesus shows us Your way.
It’s God’s ongoing purpose for the mystery of His will to live in you and me. How can that be? When we choose to reject unbelief and independence from God and choose by faith to follow Jesus ways of love, the Holy Spirit reveals Jesus’ life in us. Just as He brought Jesus physical body back from death, the Holy Spirit delivers us from the death of being separated from God’s love. When we get reconnected to God by faith, His forgiveness, kindness and mercy can live in us. What a mystery— the riches of God’s grace, lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight.
Thank You Jesus for agreeing with Your Father’s loving purpose and for making known the riches of His endless grace. Thank You that God’s grace is not doled out by the teaspoonful but is lavished upon us. Thank You for redemption through Your blood. Thank you that when You surrendered Your life to God upon the cross, You revealed the mystery of Your Father’s will— that by faith in You we might be forgiven for our failures to love and for our selfish independence from God. Thank you that by faith in You we can receive new life from the Holy Spirit, life with the power to help us love God and each other according to His plan.
“Believer! Study the humility of Jesus. This is the secret, the hidden root of your redemption. Sink down into it more deeply day by day. Believe with your whole heart that Christ— whom God has given us— will work in us, making us what the Father wants us to be.” Andrew Murray, Humility
Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan!
Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary!
Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty, at Calvary.
Wm. R. Newell
Thank you, Lord, that we don’t need to do anything to defend ourselves, prove ourselves or assert ourselves. All we need to do is confess our failures and weakness and receive Your love and forgiveness and entrust our lives to You. May we, with our eyes upon Jesus, receive by faith the power of Your indwelling Holy Spirit, and live in gratitude, in the humility of redemption, and in obedience to Your laws of love through the blood of Jesus.
