Ephesians 1:3-8 helps Christ’s followers to know our place in His kingdom:
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding.”
According to the above passage:
*We are blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
*We are chosen in Jesus before the creation of the world.
*We are predestined for adoption to sonship through Jesus.
*We are recipients of His glorious grace, freely given because of Jesus.
*We are redeemed because of Jesus’ blood.
*We are fully forgiven for our sins because of the riches of God’s grace.
Please pause and consider who we are, and the position God has granted us because of Jesus.
It is absolutely remarkable to consider the position we have in God’s kingdom because of the awesome sacrifice Jesus willingly made by coming to earth, living in a human skin, going through the gruesome process of crucifixion, and experiencing the separation from and the wrath of His Father to pay the debt for our sins.
Christ’s followers need to seriously consider our position in God’s kingdom. There is nothing comparable to the gift of being His child, and being given the riches of His grace.
I think that too often we fail to remember that we are the children of THE KING of kings! Our Father is the awesome Creator of our world. We [Christ’s followers] have the ability to boldly access Him. Hebrews 4:16 states this truth: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
It is scandalous when the child of an earthly king fails to live up to his or her position as a child of the king – when that child runs amuck in sinful choices.
How much greater the loss when God’s children fail to live up to our position as His beloved children.
God wants His children to become in practice what we already are in position!
He wants us to live our earthly lives in such a manner that people will know we are His children.
How should we as God’s children behave because of our position in Christ?
We should honor our God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, in word and deed.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
We should honor others, since we are all created in His image.
Romans 12:9-10: “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”
We should extend mercy and grace to others because He extends copious amounts of both to us.
Luke 6:26: “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”
We should have the same standard for ourselves as we have for others.
Galatians 6:4: “But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.”
We should live with our focus on Him, and the hope of Jesus’ return.
Matthew 24:44: “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
We should be excited to share the Gospel – it is the greatest news we can share with others.
Mark 16:15: “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”
We should be the first to forgive others, because of the magnitude of Christ’s forgiveness to us.
Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
We should be generous, because our God is overly generous to us.
2 Corinthians 9:7: “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
These are a few thoughts on how a Christian should live now based upon their position in Christ.
How can we, as Christ’s followers, rejoice together as we live for Him, as His redeemed people?
If you do not yet know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, please reach out to me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com. I would count it a privilege to talk with you about Jesus. I want you to share in Christ’s riches!
Living for Jesus, Donna
P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!
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Copyright 2024 Donna Shappy All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.