Focus
Pay attention to the tension in your body. Let go of it and any expectations to do anything other than God’s will today. Prepare yourself to hear God’s word.
Read
Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. 5 He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on 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 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight 9 he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, 12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; 14 this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.
Reflect
Have you ever received that special invitation to dine at someone’s house and your initial reaction is, “Yes! What can I bring!?” to which the reply is, “Just bring yourself.” The day comes, you arrive, and are treated to an abundance of feasting and fellowship, and all you had to do was show up. There is abundance in this Scripture today. Paul starts his letter by pointing out how God Himself has planned, prepared, and heaped generous blessings upon his chosen ones. The invitation was already prepared, the party planned, and the story written for each one of us before He spoke the world into existence. Words like adoption, redemption, forgiveness and inheritance grace the invitation, with the only necessities existing for participation – believing, receiving, and setting our hope on the Son – the one who hand-delivered the invitations to earth. As you go out today, remember that if you have accepted the invitation to come, the inside of Christ is where you live. You’re enveloped in an eternal plan – a love that is everlasting.
“Don’t ever forget how blessed you are.” – tuck these words into the pocket of your heart as you go forth to meet the day.
Here is a song related to this devotion if you would like to view it: Come to the Table, Sidewalk Prophets – https://youtu.be/4cGJgRwkIDQ
Pray
Father of blessings, Thank you for the invitation to come and feast at the table of love and grace. We come – just as we are – hungry for you, thirsty for grace, needy of forgiveness and restoration. Help us never forget how blessed we are because of your love. May your Spirit guide us in extending this invitation of love to someone today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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