Devotions
Rev Gav
Plan
Ephesians 1.11–23
Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.
God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.
Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.
Reflect
God has a plan, and you have a role to play in it. Did you know that your purpose is to bring praise and glory to God?
You bring praise and glory to God when, each day, you join in with God’s ongoing mission in the world (i.e. you do good things), and the best way to go about this is by receiving wisdom and insight from the Holy Spirit.
God’s overall will and purpose is for humans to live in harmony with God, with one another, and with God’s creation but the way we live out each day is an adventure!
To live in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit is both exciting and challenging. Each day, when we wake up, we invite the Holy Spirit to guide and direct our hearts, move in and through us, open our eyes and ears to what God would have us do, and inspire us to be Jesus to the world.
When you live in a God-inspired way, you see needs to which you may have previously been blind, become moved by pain and suffering, and feel anger when you witness injustice. You become more caring, more compassionate, more sensitive, more generous, and more loving. You literally bring praise and glory to God!
The good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that the Holy Spirit is freely available to all who ask, with no prerequisites or criteria, and no hoops through which you must jump. It doesn’t matter how old you are, your gender, sexuality, social status, ability, intellectual capacity, or physical or emotional state — the Holy Spirit can fill and inspire you. Even something as simple as extending a God-inspired, loving smile to someone can make a positive impact for good in the world! God will work in and through you exactly where you are, to fulfil God’s ultimate loving purpose.
Therefore, today, be expectant and open to the Holy Spirit filling you and working through you. Every relationship and every encounter with someone is an opportunity for you to give and receive God’s love, and every decision is an opportunity to express God’s love and care for creation.
Go and be fabulous!
Pray
Holy God
May your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Please give me wisdom
through your Holy Spirit
that I may see the world
as you see the world
and be a vessel
for your overflowing love.
This day and forever.
and then