Isaiah - Verse By Verse | Walking through Ephesians

Walking through Ephesians - Day 12

versebyverse | October 27, 2007 22:07

Thought: To me, it is a wondrous thing to become, through saving faith in Christ, an avenue of praise to His name!

Question: What provision of God makes you prise Him the most?

Scripture: Ehpesians 1:12 (NIV): "in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory."

This "we" probably refers to the apostles, (Acts 1: 2 and 3), those found in the upper room at Pentecost, (Acts 1:13 and 14) and the 120 believers at that time (Acts 1:15). But the church at Ejphesus is also "first" in two ways, I believe. It was Paul's first field of outreach and is listed first in the list of churches mentioned by John in Revelation. These early believers, or first ones to receive the gospel as it proceeded out from Jerusalem after Pentecost, are the beginning of elected ones, chosen ones, that Paul speaks of when he talks of predestined souls. He points out that those saints are "for the praise of his glory." As soon as people receive Christ, as did these first converts in Jerusalem or in Ephesus, they become an ornament upon God's Being. They shine forth praise and gladness that this unspeakable grace of a Holy God would allow them to come to Him, know Him, attach to Him forever--in spite of all their sins. Holy, Holy, Holy is God, though I am not! Loving and gracious is He to me, though I sin against Him day by day. This is His glory, not mine.

Prayer: Most Holy God, help us to truly bring praise, due to Your glory, to all those around us. Amen.