EPHESIANS 1:3, 11 – 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, In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.
THEME OF THE DAY. THE GOD OF ALL ENCOURAGEMENT. Our God has given us many things to encourage us in our relationship with Him. Along the journey to heaven filled with many trials and tribulations, He doesn’t leave us to ourselves. There are so many promises He gives to keep us keeping on when we feel like throwing in the spiritual towel. He is gracious to His children knowing our frailty and weaknesses. And there are not enough books to contain just how gracious He is to us, but let’s ponder two things about our God which will always lift up the downcast, drive away dark clouds of doubt, and put a “spiritual spring in our steps” in our daily walk with Him.
First, God is our Heavenly Father. Notice how the Apostle Paul starts out his wonderful letter to the Ephesian believers; the recognition of the paternal relationship with God. Friends, there are times in life so hard that the only whisper of a prayer we offer to heaven is two words, “Oh, Father.” And if we meditate long and deep on those two glorious words, it will see us through any trial or difficulty. Our God is not a tyrant. Our God is not a hard taskmaster to His children. Our God is not an indifferent deity. Our God is our Heavenly Father who cares for His own with an unfailing love, a steadfast love, an abundant love. Jesus reminded a hurting follower of His with this truth. Mary went to His tomb, weeping and grief-stricken, and the Lord of Glory lifts her drooping heart with these words . . .
“But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God’” (John 20:11-17). As Mary soared with joy over God being her Father, let us join her in our times of being in spiritual valleys.
Another truth of our God that encourages us is His sovereignty. The Apostle Paul reminds us in today’s scripture that our God works ALL THINGS, not some things, according to the counsel of His will. What does this mean? It means the petition in the Lord’s model prayer, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”, will happen (Matthew 6:10). Rest in our heavenly Father who is also our sovereign heavenly Father. There is not a thing, event, or situation coming into our lives that is not under the control of our sovereign Father. And because He is love, whatever it is, will work for our good and His glory.
Yes, our God is the God of all grace, all comfort, and all encouragement. And He manifests Himself as such by being our heavenly, sovereign Father. Lean on Him. He can be trusted all the time.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to see all Your ways are good and that I can rest confidently in such truth.”
QUOTE: “God is really in control despite what we may see in our world or feel in our hearts.”