9God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. 10And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. 11Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God,c for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.
12God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. 13And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his ownd by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.14The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.
It is all really too much to comprehend. Clearly God has a grand plan for all eternity. Everything comes together under Christ. And clearly He chose me and you from the very beginning to be part of the grand design. Why? What on Earth (or in all the universe) would cause this Holy and amazing creator to choose me? My heart is broken with shame for how I have responded to his love for me, and yet he loves me still.
And what about this Holy Spirit being a guarantee of our inheritance from God? To the Ephesians, the Holy Spirit was obviously so alive that his existence was unquestionable, or how could Paul use that as a proof of a future inheritance. I need the Holy Spirit to be that alive in my life. I have squelched and hampered him long enough. Have you? Are we ready to let him explode in our lives?
Lord Jesus, through the power of your Holy Spirit, transform me into someone who does bring you praise and glory for all eternity. Change me Lord, change me.
