4/16/20 I Devotion

Ephesians 1:3-14

3 Bless the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing that comes from heaven. 4 God chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless in God’s presence before the creation of the world. 5 God destined us to be his adopted children through Jesus Christ because of his love. This was according to his goodwill and plan 6 and to honor his glorious grace that he has given to us freely through the Son whom he loves. 7 We have been ransomed through his Son’s blood, and we have forgiveness for our failures based on his overflowing grace, 8 which he poured over us with wisdom and understanding. 9 God revealed his hidden design[a] to us, which is according to his goodwill and the plan that he intended to accomplish through his Son. 10 This is what God planned for the climax of all times:[b] to bring all things together in Christ, the things in heaven along with the things on earth. 11 We have also received an inheritance in Christ. We were destined by the plan of God, who accomplishes everything according to his design. 12 We are called to be an honor to God’s glory because we were the first to hope in Christ. 13 You too heard the word of truth in Christ, which is the good news of your salvation. You were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit because you believed in Christ. 14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment on our inheritance, which is applied toward our redemption as God’s own people, resulting in the honor of God’s glory.

Devotion

These words flow in an endless stream of praise and wonder, as if meant to lift us to the very heights of God’s presence. Reading them, I imagine standing in a rushing creek that looks like it would be fun to wade in, but then once you take a few steps out it sweeps you off your feet by its sheer power. You can’t help but get carried away in these words: blessed us in Christ, Chose us in Christ, Destined to be his adopted children, his glorious grace he has given to us freely, to bring all things together in Christ. 
 
This is the good news of the gospel. Ephesians reminds us of God’s love for us, this undeserved, excessive, tender, richly abundant love. 
 
In the above scripture passage, you might have noticed a phrase that was repeated pretty often-- “In Christ.” In Christ is an expression apparently coined by Paul and is used 34 times in Ephesians alone.  But what does it mean to be “in Christ?” 
 
"In Christ" we are transported into a new world. Being "in Christ" reframes everything: we see ourselves and one another, neighbor or stranger, in a fresh way. "In Christ" every experience is made new, from our joys and cherished achievements to our regrets and most wounding losses. "In Christ" we are joined to the power and presence of God. "In Christ" we are connected to others who will cry over our dead with us even as they help us sing hymns of resurrection. But being "in Christ" is not a sentimental togetherness. An "in Christ" community is called to be a truth-telling, truth-living reflection of the God who has called it into being.
 
Being in Christ is being the Church. Not having a church. Not going to church, but being the church. 
 
Christ has chosen us as a community to participate in his good works. Let us be swept away in the grace of God that pours over us. May we find peace in the fact that Christ has set us free. God has chosen us, and has a purpose for us all.

Amber Lea Gray, Associate Pastor