Ephesians 1:7-10
In him we also have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in keeping with the riches of his grace, which he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight. He made known to us the mystery of his will in keeping with his good purpose, which he planned in Christ. This was to be carried out when the time had fully come, in order to bring all things together in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for giving us your word today, which spelled out your plan of salvation for all mankind. You redeemed us—repurchased us—from all our sins. Since you are holy, you cannot be in the presence of imperfection and evil; they push us away from you. Every loveless thought, word, or action moves us further away from you, and you tell us in your word in Psalm 14: 2, 3: “The Lord looks down from heaven on all the children of Adam to see if there is anyone who understands, anyone who seeks God. Every one of them has turned away. Altogether they have become rotten. There is no one who does good. There is not even one.” And Paul reiterates these same verses in his letter to the Romans.
If we were on our own, we would be condemned for our sins. But all is not lost because you sent your Son to redeem us from every one of those sins which pushes us away from you. Through your wisdom and insight, we know how we are saved, and that is through faith in Jesus. Nothing in us can save us, but salvation comes from the outside—through Christ and the Holy Spirit. You gave us the gift of your Son; Jesus suffered and died on the cross to redeem us from our sins. You sent us your Holy Spirit to create a new and clean heart in us that by believing in you, we know your will for us through your wisdom and insight. You desire everyone to come to the knowledge of you, to hear your words, and to believe and be saved from their sins—forgiveness is the key that unlocks heaven for all.
So we ask you to be with us; please give us the courage to share the good news of your love and forgiveness with the world that does not know you. So that they, too, would come to believe and trust in you. So we pray for one person to be placed in our path today so that we can share the good news of your salvational plan for them, and your Holy Spirit can create a new heart in them and believe in Jesus and you. Amen.
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
God’s will is this: for everyone to know, believe, and trust in his love and mercy. So that through the forgiveness Jesus bought with his blood, we will be permanently restored to him for eternity.