“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 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 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.“
Ephesians 1:3-10 ESV
The writer of Hebrews offers a walk through the Hall of Fame of Faith of those who maintained their faith through all sorts of contrary circumstances (Hebrews 11).
Just before the Hall of Fame tour, he urges the reader to stay the course, not to fall from the walk of faith.
“Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, "Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him." But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.“
Hebrews 10:35-39 ESV
After the Hall of Fame tour the writer turns to giving instruction as to how all believers can stay the course until the end of this life’s journey.
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.“
Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV
Indeed, we are able to stay the course by looking at Jesus, the designer and builder, the source and the means of our salvation.
Today we consider that the Lord, knowing all things, had a plan for our return to Him, even before The Fall.
Paul was in dire straits because of his preaching of the gospel. In encouraging his spiritual son, Timothy, he talks of the wonderful plan of God and the fact that our salvation was the result of God’s purposes and will, not the result of anything we did, or could do.
“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.“
2 Timothy 1:8-12 ESV
Yes, it was the Lord’s will and plan that we be restored to sonship.
“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.“
Romans 8:29-30 ESV
So, out of God’s own heart, before we even sinned, He prepared a perfect Lamb to be the sacrifice for our sins.
“All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.“
Revelation 13:8 NKJV
In our opening scripture we see Paul instructing the church at Ephesus that Christ was God‘s master plan. Indeed, He made the plan before the foundation of the world, a plan to bring us back to Himself, a plan to be able to pour the blessings of heaven in us and make us His children.
Child of God, let us be encouraged, knowing that God not only desired our salvation, but made a plan for it, a plan that called for the ultimate Sacrifice.
“And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.“
I Peter 1:17-21 NKJV
Now, God’s plan for us doesn’t stop with sonship. His plan also made a way for our victory, a way to receive all that He has for us.
We’ll talk more about this tomorrow.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
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