40 Days Blog - Day 1
It’s 1672 and after twelve years in prison for unauthorised preaching, John Bunyan is finally released. He had viewed incarceration as a trial that deepened his faith. Despite severe hardship and separation from his family, he firmly believed his confinement was God's purpose for him. He even refused release if it meant he would have to cease preaching! In this time, he meditated, worshipped and prayed. He also wrote the masterpiece
Pilgrim’s Progress among other writings such as the less well-known
Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners.
It is very difficult to imagine what this time was like for Bunyan- it’s outwith our experience. It is equally hard to understand how Paul felt while being unjustly held captive for years on end. But like Bunyan, he used his time to further the Gospel, to write, pray and meditate. The readings we are exploring in the next 40 Days really come from the heart and we can hear them with the urgency and love that Paul has for his readers. He writes with deep concern for their spiritual welfare. Yet the writings are also for us, the “
Faithful in Jesus Christ” (
v1)
We could probe today’s passage for the next 40 days! But today let’s focus on the lavish goodness of God who gives the very best to us.
Ephesus was an influential trading hub, home to the world’s largest amphitheater, and boasted the great temple of Artemis. Paul lived here for over two years, holding daily public lectures. (see
Acts 19). The Christians he was addressing were well taught and the “whole province of Asia heard the word of the Lord” (
Acts 19:10).
Paul first affirms the Ephesians about their faithfulness. They are committed Christians living in a challenging secular environment. That feels familiar!
Look at the verbs in today’s reading:
God - Has blessed us (with every spiritual blessing)
God - Chose us (to be holy and blameless in His sight)
God - Adopted us (as His sons)
God - Has freely given us (His glorious grace)
God - Has made known (the mystery of his will)
And...
We - Have redemption and forgiveness of sins
We - Are included with Christ
We - Are sealed with the Holy Spirit.
This is an affirmation of God’s rescue plan for mankind. The perfect world He created, spoiled by sin, needs a Saviour. Christ has come and as God determined beforehand there is redemption for us. In Christ alone, He looks on us as blameless.
What is amazing is to consider that God is holding nothing back. Every blessing intended for us is NOW ours (
v3). We are included NOW.
This is the message Paul was teaching in the lecture hall, on the streets and in homes. Now from his prison he is reminding the Ephesians (and us) of the lavish love of God. And how He purposed all this for us.
Both Paul and John Bunyan worshipped God in their cells as they reflected on these truths.
Let us do that now in our freedom.
A Prayer
Gracious God, thank You for Your love for me. A love so undeserved, but so willingly given. Though I cannot ever understand Your plans, I know that You care for me, and have done everything so that I might be counted as one of the faithful in Your presence. Thank You that You have lavished grace upon me and have given me forgiveness though I know I do not deserve it. I pray that in these readings You will draw me near to You.
Amen.
Listen to today's reading and blog post below...