Ephesians 1:1-5 – “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will…”
Paul reminds us that his station in life as an Apostle was God’s will, not something he chose for himself. His authority is from God and His words inspired by Him. It is by the authority of God that Paul declares we were chosen to be in Christ before creation began and as a result, holy and blameless before Him. Out of love for mankind, it was God’s predetermined will to adopt us as His children through Jesus Christ’s atoning work and mediation. This brings God pleasure!
To come to Jesus Christ and be reconciled to God, receiving the forgiveness of our sins, is to be adopted by the King of Kings who makes EVERY spiritual blessing available to us. To know God as our Father, and Jesus as our friend, is to be enabled by the divine nature to be faithful to the God we love. We find grace and peace from His empowering work in us to live a new life of love. The Holy Spirit animates our lives with fresh wind and fresh fire. To experience the blessings of heaven is to exclaim with the Apostle, ‘blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!’ He has been so good to us, we want to bless His heart by taking advantage of His spiritual blessings – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
It was God’s will before creation for mankind to be with Him. He predetermined adoption through Christ. It brings Him pleasure when we come into agreement. Are you taking advantage of the spiritual blessings He wants to give you each day? We have not because we ask not.