What is my purpose? A series on Ephesians, part 1 (Ephesians 1:1-14)




Read Ephesians 1:1-14 (see bottom of page)

Its interesting that this devotional happened to be about who we belong to, and what our purpose is in this life. I have been pondering this alot lately. Where we fit in in life is so important, being an adopted and undeserved child of God is truly a gift of His Grace. Do you find you're satisfied with the purpose we're given in this text? I often struggle with feeling like I dont have a purpose but today's text has a description of what our purpose is. God's plan for this purpose is found in verse 10

"...as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth." Ephesians 1:10 ESV

If you keep reading you'll find that vs 12 ("so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1:12 ESV) tells us our purpose is to be to the praise of His glory. He knew us before we were even formed, He called us to be His children, and we are to live a life that shows this. We are to live life to His glory. I guess the question we need to ask ourselves then is "How can I live my life in a way that acknowledges God's gracious gifts and what can I personally do that shows I'm living to His glory?"

Someone once said something to me that struck a chord with me that may do the same for you. Sometimes, we talk ourselves in theological circles. There are some things we will never know or understand in this life because God is infinitely wiser and greater than we are. Our simple human minds can't fully comprehend all that God does. Sometimes, we just need to remember what faith really is. Believing without "seeing" so to speak. Trusting that God knows all and that our salvation doesn't depend on how much we know or have figured out. A childlike faith is one of trust and confidence in God whether we understand or not.

I say all this to show that although we know our over all purpose is to live to God's glory,  what that means specifically for each of us is different. I can't tell you what to do as your job or what you're doing specifically, but I can tell you that whatever you're doing, you need to do it in a way so as to bring glory to God. God's plan is beyond our simple minded understanding but we know everything is working together towards the fullness of time, to "unite all things in Him". Although we may not understand why certain things happen in this life, we can trust the maker and giver of life. 



Ephesians 1:1‭-‬14 ESV

"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 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, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 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, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."


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