Ephesians 1:1-14   "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."   Paul writes to the Ephesian church about this wonderful grace of God that has been poured out.. lavished on "us"!

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.. "   What spiritual blessings is Paul talking about?  

Well.. first of all the blessing of being "chosen".   Our Father chose us "before the foundation of the world."  That is so amazing!  That He chooses to make us" holy and blameless before Him"  is even more amazing!

Our Father "predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself... "  This is the kindness of His grace.  He chose us before we knew anything about Him.. before we knew anything at all. It has happened out of His heart of love!

Our Father has given us "redemption" and "forgiveness of our trespasses"  through the blood of the Beloved Son.. "according to the riches of His grace which He lavished upon us."   Nothing we could do to earn it.. nothing we can do to deserve it.. but He did it all! Glory to His Name!

Our Father has "made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him.. " It pleased God to show us His purposes in Christ.. something greater than any man could fathom.. a great "mystery" of how God would come to dwell among men.. live a sinless life.. die a painful death.. and raise up out of the grave to purchase eternal life for those who believe!

Our Father has given us "an inheritance according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.."  We have a hope that is unlike anything the world can know.. and we sing praises to  the glory of our King!

Our Father has given us "the Holy Spirit of promise".. a "pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory." 

Father in heaven, we praise Your holy Name! How can we thank You for the grace that You have lavished on us.. to  choose us, adopt us, redeem us, forgive us, make known to us Your Son, our Savior, and to give us a living hope.. an inheritance that will never perish.  You have given us Your Spirit to dwell in us as Your pledge.. for all that You will complete in us through Your great grace.  We look forward to that day when we see everything clearly.. "in the fulness of the times... the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things upon the earth."   Thank You for these spiritual blessings. Glory to Your Name. Amen.