Daily Devotions
Ephesians
"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."
Text: Ephesians 1:11
GOD’S PLAN TO GATHER ALL WHO BELONG TO HIM
Paul must have thought hard about the revelation that the Lord had given to him. What did God mean when He gave this thought to Paul?
“He (would) gather together in one all things in Christ”
EPHESIANS 1:10
Perhaps a text from the book of Malachi might give us a deeper understanding of this great work of God.
“Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another,
And the LORD listened and heard them;
So a book of remembrance was written before Him,
For those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name.
‘They shall be Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts,
On the day that I make them My jewels.
And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.”
MALACHI 3:16-17
1. Who will be among the people whom God will gather?
a) In OT language, “Those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name.”
b) In NT language, those who are “in Christ”.
2. How would God see those whom He will gather?
a) In OT language, they are called “My jewels”.
b) In NT language, they are called “inheritance” (NKJV translation).
THE IDEA BEHIND THE WORD “INHERITANCE”
There are two important ideas behind this word translated “inheritance” (” kleroo”).
1. The idea of “allotment”
The focus is on God choosing us as His children. It is our privilege to be included at all. God has allotted us the privilege of being numbered among the people He will gather to Himself in Christ one day.
2. The idea of being “heirs”
By virtue of being in Christ, we come into a special inheritance. This is well expressed in another text Paul wrote.
“And if children, then heirs-
heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ…”
ROMANS 8:17
Let us stand in awe and humble gratitude for what Christ has done when He gave His life on Calvary to give us salvation.