Verse of the Day 9/28

Verse of the Day 9/28

Ephesians 1:7 

⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,  English Standard Version (ESV)

I plan on continuing with Jesus' I tell you the truth statements, but for today I'd like to go to the book of Ephesians and chapter one which deals with some of the benefits, the blessings of being "in Christ", taking His Word as truth and putting our faith and trust in Him.

Yesterday in church we sang the old hymn "Come Thy Fount of Every Blessing", it deals with counting our blessings while at the same time addressing how our hearts are prone to wander.  Today's verse reminds us that in Him we have redemption and forgiveness, that Jesus can bind our hearts to His.

Ephesians 1 will be in many read through the Bible plans starting today or tomorrow.  The hymn reminded me of it and I heard a message from this passage last night while driving.  The focus of the message was that all of our spiritual blessings stem from Christ and what He has accomplished for us.  Read the rest of the passage below.  We need to read it and be reminded of this passage more than we hear in an occasional message, or once a year in a read through the Bible plan.  Post it on your desk or your refrigerator, be reminded of it often.  Be reminded that God is not stingy in giving out His blessings, He "lavishes" them on us.

I read the following quote by Jared Waterbury in Grace Gems this morning that could be a reaction of someone who has the realization of what we have and who we are "in Christ".  "The soul that feels the constraining influence of His love, asks not how little may be given consistently with obtaining the heavenly reward -- asks not the lowest standard of discipleship.  It burns an ardent desire to devote ALL, and to aim at perfect "conformity to His death".  (to his dying day).

I'll close with a familiar passage that also just happened to come up in my reading this morning.

Isaiah 43:1-3English Standard Version (ESV) But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
    he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
    I have called you by name, you are mine.

² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
    and the flame shall not consume you.
³ For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

 

Blessings,

Mike

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Ephesians 1:5-10English Standard Version (ESV)

⁵ he predestined us^[a] for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, ⁸ which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight ⁹ making known^[b] to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ ¹⁰ as a plan forthe fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.