Ephesians 1:3-14— Paul
would remind us that Christ, the Word, blesses the faithful with sonship and
wisdom. Verses 3-6 deal with praise to
God for spiritual blessings which come with the gift of the Spirit. From eternity
we are destined to be sons and daughters of God through the grace of Christ.
At Christmas we receive blessings. What is the nature of
these blessings? We often feel blessed if the whole family got together, if the
meals were plentiful, and if the gifts were abundant. Paul describes blessings
of a Christian as “spiritual.” They are
the blessings received in Christ and because of Christ. Some of the blessings
are our being chosen as sons of God to be holy and blameless, faith in Christ,
and love for others.
God has a destiny for you. He predestines us not to
condemnation or hell but to life as His sons through Christ. It is God’s will
for all of us to be saved, to have life, and to go to heaven. This was God’s
will even before the world was created. To accomplish this, He sent His Son to
the world to die for us that we might by faith become people of God. Though
this is our divine destiny, we may reject God’s will and refuse sonship.
Collect
for a New Year: Most
merciful God, You gave Your eternal Word to become incarnate of the pure
Virgin. Grant Your people grace to put away fleshly lusts that they may be
ready for Your visitation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns
with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.[2]
[1] Jesus in the Temple, Schnorr von Carolsfeld, woodcuts copyright © WELS Permission to use these copyrighted items is limited to personal and congregational use.
[2] Collect for a New Year, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
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