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Prepare Your Heart

To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.

Read God’s Word

Song of Solomon 5-8
Ephesians 1

A Verse for Today

Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.

Ephesians 1:3 (CSB): “Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ.”

Reflecting on God’s Word

A few days ago, I noted that a key phrase clarified the meaning of the book of Ecclesiastes. We learned that the author used the phrase “under the sun” to convey the futility and meaninglessness of living life without God.

In the book of Ephesians, we find different phrases that open up the meaning of the book. As you read Ephesians, look for the following propositional phrases: “in Christ,” “in Him,” and “in the Beloved One.” Those phrases appear multiple times, more than enough to make it clear that God’s Spirit is seeking to capture our attention as Paul wrote this letter.

So, what do those phrases mean?

The best I can explain it is to point to Noah’s ark. Why were Noah, his wife, his three sons, and their three wives spared from God’s judgment? Because they were “in the ark.” Because they were “in the ark,” they were recipients of so many of God’s blessings. If there were no ark, they would have all drowned in the worldwide flood. But, because they were “in the ark,” they were spared.

That’s the picture we see in the letter to the Ephesian Christians — and to us. Anyone who is “in Christ” is the recipient of so many blessings. It’s not because of us. If it were not for Jesus, we would all be recipients of God’s judgment and wrath. But, because we are “in Christ,” we are saved.

What does it mean to be “in Christ?” It means that we are resting in Jesus and what He has done for us to make us right in the Father’s eyes. Just as Noah realized that he could not save himself from the coming worldwide flood and needed to enter and rest in the ark to be saved, so we realize that we can do nothing to make ourselves right in God’s eyes; therefore, we rest in what Jesus has done for us.

Noah was saved because he was in the ark; we are saved because we are in Christ.

So, as you read the book of Ephesians, and observe all of the wonderful things that are true of all believers, realize that those things are true of you only because you are “in Christ.” You are the recipient of blessings, but He is the reason for them. So be sure you thank Him.

Spend Time in Prayer

  • Ask God to help you consider so many of the things that are true of you because you are in Christ, and then thank Him for them.

Going Deeper

If you want to dig a little deeper into what it means to be in Christ, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:

“What does it mean to be in Christ?”

Sharing

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Matt Ellis is the pastor of White Hall Baptist Church in Richmond, Kentucky (whitehallbaptistchurch.org)