Key Verse: “Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.” (Ephesians 1:3-4 CSB)
As the Apostle Paul dove into his letter to the church in Ephesus, he began with worship. “Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,” he wrote. The reason for Paul’s praise was that he knew that in Christ Jesus, God had blessed him richly.
The blessings of God that Paul was speaking of were not in the form of physical or material resources. Rather, Paul had spiritual matters in mind. God has “blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ,” he wrote. Out of a heart of gratitude and praise, Paul was returning blessings to God for all the spiritual blessings that he had received.
What did these spiritual blessings include? One of the most significant blessings for the Apostle Paul, and for all of us who are in Christ, is the reality that God has chosen us. While each of us must choose to respond with faith and receive the gift of God’s forgiveness and grace, if we are in Christ, it is because God first chose us. “You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit,” (John 15:16) Jesus told us. This is part of the great mystery of God.
When did this actually happen? When did God choose us? According to the Scriptures, it was in eternity-past, “before the foundation of the world” (v.4). Even before God spoke creation into existence, He chose us in Christ Jesus.
What was God’s purpose in all of this? What was He seeking to accomplish through those whom He chose? Paul wrote, “For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him” (v.4). The reason why God chose you and me was to make us holy and blameless in His sight. He desired to raise up a people for Himself whom He could transform into the image of His Son Jesus Christ. God chose us in order to make us more like Jesus.
Think about how amazing this is! None of us deserved to be chosen. None of us earned that right. But out of the incredible depth of His love for us, ”even while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8), God chose to reveal His grace and mercy to us. As a result, we are forever His. We are now holy and blameless before Him because we are in Christ Jesus. Nothing can change that reality because of all that He has accomplished.
Today, regardless of whatever else is happening in your life whether good or bad, remember how blessed you are in Christ Jesus. God’s blessings in your life are not measured by your bank statement, what you own, what you do, whom you know or what circumstances you are going through. Real blessing are the spiritual blessings that you have through Jesus.
We are blessed. God has chosen us before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in love before Him. This is amazing. This alone is reason for praise today!
Prayer: God, I bless you today because in Christ Jesus you have blessed me with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. Thank you for choosing me, not because of my own merits, but because of your mercy and love. As one who has been so richly blessed, I praise you today. Amen.
Author: Jonathan Miller has served in pastoral roles for more than 13 years in churches in Barrie, Oakville and Burlington, Ontario. He currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Prison Fellowship Canada, a ministry that mobilizes and equips local churches to engage in the restorative work of prisoners, ex-prisoners, their families, and victims across Canada. Jon holds degrees from McMaster University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He and his wife Adrienne have been married since 2004, and live in Burlington, Ontario with their 4 children. Jon’s greatest passion is to know Jesus and to see lives transformed by Him and for Him.
