Praising God the Trinity

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Opening Prayer

Almighty God, Your greatness demands my highest praise. Your love deserves my complete dedication. I offer them to You now.

Read Ephesians 1:1-14

^[1] Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: ^[2] Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ^[3] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. ^[4] For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ^[5] he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will- ^[6] to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. ^[7] In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace ^[8] that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, ^[9] he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ^[10] to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment-to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. ^[11] In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ^[12] in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. ^[13] And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ^[14] who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession-to the praise of his glory.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“Discovering that you are to receive an inheritance like that (as outlined in vs. 3-14), should change your whole life. How can you not join in the hymn of praise” (N.T. Wright)?

Think Further

Paul begins his letter with a traditional greeting, yet the words are heartfelt. He returns to the themes of grace and peace regularly throughout Ephesians (“grace” is referred to 12 times, and “peace” 7 times). God’s grace brings Paul immediately to God’s blessings, and he erupts into praise. It’s a wonderful Christian Trinitarian doxology! Our blessings come from God the Father (3), through Christ the Son (4-13) and are sealed by the Holy Spirit (13,14). Paul also reminds us of the very heart of the gospel: that God, in his grace, redeems us through the blood of Jesus and forgives our sins (7).

Although the letter was written to encourage believers, the focus is not on us or our faith. Everything is down to the grace of God. For in our relationship with God, we do not take the initiative. God does. Paul tells us we are “chosen,” “predestined,” “adopted” (4-6). We are part of God’s own plan and, as we go on in faith, we will be given wisdom to understand God’s purposes more fully (9), to understand that everything holds together in Christ (10; see also Col. 1:17), and to live for his glory (12).

These deep spiritual truths are not always easy to grasp. In particular, people have often worried about the implications of being “predestined.” Some are afraid that it takes away human choice or responsibility and cuts others out of God’s kingdom, but this is not what Paul is saying. He assures us that God loves us, forgives us and chooses us as his servants, but he suggests no fatalism or inevitability. Paul makes it clear that we each need to respond to the gospel and God’s call on our lives. The responsibility to believe and accept Christ’s salvation remains our own (13).

Apply

Are there people you know who have heard God’s call on their lives but not yet responded? Pray for them today.

Closing prayer

Lord, there is much here I do not completely understand, but so much I do. Amazing grace, amazing love, so in You so much is now mine. Hallelujah!

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