Ephesians 1:11
Thoughts from Brian Smith
Dive Deeper
“In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.”
Ephesians 1:11
Behind the Scenes
The apostle Paul wrote our verse today in a letter of encouragement to the Church of Ephesus. After greeting the saints in Ephesus, people that had accepted salvation through Jesus Christ, he begins to describe the spiritual blessings that are gifted through Christ. Paul illustrates the love that God has for us by explaining that we were all chosen by Him, before He created the world, to be holy and blameless in His eyes. God chose to adopt us as His children and make us heirs to His grace, redemption, forgiveness, love, and unity.
To dive deeper into the idea of being an heir of God, let’s take a closer look at the beginning of Ephesians. Paul wrote this letter around 60-62 A.D., about a decade after the church had been started. He was encouraging the church about their faith, love, and devotion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This church had found unity between people of diverse cultures, ethnicities, and socioeconomic standings.
Our verse today applied to all the people in the Church of Ephesus, just as it applies to every person living today. God’s will and desire is for us to be reconciled to Him and has been percolating since before the creation of the world. And our decision to respond to His love and forgiveness is our first step towards that reconciliation.
The apostle Paul then introduces another facet to our journey and identity. We are children of God through Jesus, which also makes us heirs. As heirs, our inheritance includes the blessings of God’s forgiveness for our sins, an identity as holy and blameless in His eyes, and understanding His will, which is to reconcile all things to Him, through Jesus Christ. As this chapter continues, the author Paul writes that we are also blessed with the Holy Spirit, a “deposit guaranteeing our inheritance” (verse 14).
Make it Real
Nearly 2,000 years ago, the gift of an inheritance was of astounding importance. Most people continued in the trades of their parents, which left little flexibility or potential for economic success. So, an inheritance was the greatest “game changer” available. Like a personal investment that wasn’t necessarily earned but gifted due to birth rights. However, that inheritance had stipulations, such as gender, marriage status, and legitimacy at birth. How disappointing it must have been to be ineligible for such an influential gift. But thankfully, Jesus entered the picture and flipped that criteria upside down.
How absolutely incredible is it that all people, no matter their gender, birth order, marriage status, or heritage have been adopted into Gods family? Not only are all believers now children of God, but we have also inherited the identity of holy and blameless in God’s eyes. Not one person is left out of this life-changing gift, this blessing that can’t be earned.
But wait. . . there’s more! We have also inherited full forgiveness for all of our sins through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We have also been given understanding and insight into God’s will. I can’t tell you how many prayers I have prayed sitting on my knees, driving my car, or screaming in the shower absolutely begging for God to just tell me what he wants. We have inherited the answer. He is sharing His will with us, which is to reconcile all things to Him, through Jesus Christ.
But wait. . . there’s even more! He has also given us His Holy Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing our inheritance. God didn’t count any of us out, no one has been disqualified or forgotten. He chose every single one of us to be His children and heirs, long before He ever created the world. This life changing gift was planned, wrapped, and labeled for you, and has more astounding importance than any earthly inheritance in history.
Rebecca Dyer
ACF Devo Team
End in Prayer
Lord God, thank you for your abundant gifts. We praise you because you are good, you are generous, and you are a loving Father. Thank you for choosing us before we were ever created. Thank you for inviting us and adopting us into your family. This week I pray that your will is made known in our lives. I pray that we can see how you have gifted and designed us to help reconcile all things to you, through Jesus Christ. Lord I pray for passion and excitement as Your will is made known in our lives. I pray all these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.