KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Sunday, December 16, 2018
Chapters: Book of Ephesians
Message: Good Pleasure of God’s Will
Hello My Friend,
Dispensation; A system of principles (laws) and rites; as the Mosaic dispensation (Law of Moses), and the Gospel dispensation (Law of Grace). God had a different dispensations in how He dealt with His people, for example, there was a different dispensation during the time when the Jews walked the desert for forty years, then another upon their entering the promised land. Being in God’s will is not always easy for us, in fact, I was saying to God just this morning how I understood what He says about the flesh not wanting to do anything He wants. God’s grace is an amazing thing, we would not be here without it, and it is the good pleasure of His will that He give it to us abundantly. “If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” – Ephesians 3:2-6,19.
“Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men,” The sons of men are those who never believed in or simply rejected God all together. It is the good pleasure of God’s will that all come to know Christ and be saved, it does not matter who we are, or what we have done, He gives all a choice in what we choose to believe. The Book of Ephesians was written by the apostle Paul from Rome, and to all faithful in Christ, approximately 64AD, transcribed by a man named Tychicus. The purpose of the epistle (letter) was to inform believers of their wealth in Christ and instruct them concerning their walk with Christ. What we are to learn from is that all who receive Christ are heirs to both the blessings (heavenly wealth) and responsibilities (the walk) of their calling created in them through Christ Himself. Paul reminds us that we were already predestined to know Christ, but it was our actual act of receiving Him by grace that made us joint heirs with Him.
“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” – Ephesians 1:1-7,10,13.
“according to the good pleasure of his will,” What is God’s will for each and every soul? To receive His Son as their Saviour. And what about those before Christ’s passion? You see, while it has always been the good pleasure of God’s will that all be saved by their faith, it was not until Christ’s passion that salvation by grace was actually instituted. “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:1-3,7-10.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith;” And this is why God writes these, and I do not, it is the good pleasure of God’s will to offer salvation to every believer just by our faith in what His Son did for us. Jew or Gentile, the only way we are saved today is of we choose Christ as our Saviour. It does not matter if one chooses to believe that or not, deny Christ and He will deny you. The second we learned of, believed, and received Christ as our Saviour we were filled with the Spirit of God and that power awakens us with new life, no matter what we are going through. It is easy to just walk away from God, especially when we are facing some of the worst trials, but to hold on, and serve Him in the calling that He gave us is definitely the good pleasure of God’s will. Paul stresses the importance of making the best of our new life with Christ so that He is seen through us.
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” – Ephesians 4:11-15,29-30.
“Till we all come in the unity of the faith,” It is God’s good pleasure to use us so that we can be His voice, and the light that so many need to find Christ in this dark world. Does He want us to be perfect? Yes, perfect in Christ that is. He wants willing vessels, ones that by our good works show Christ, one that shows that the grace of God is for all who come to Him through His Son. “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” – Ephesians 5:6-8,14-17.
“but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” Being in God’s will may not always be easy, we are in a spiritual battle, God versus Satan, each one trying to get us on their side, but the side of Satan always leaves us in pain, suffering, and shame in the end. The side of God always gives us peace and comfort during the pain, plus victory in the end. It may not always be a glamorous life to be a Christian, but in the end, when everyone finally comes to the realization that they do need Christ, we will already be rejoicing in the Kingdom of God. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” – Revelations 21:4.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:10.
Today’s Prayer: God, Your mercy is truly something amazing that we all take for granted, but Your grace is beyond measure, it is just astounding to think of what kind of life I lived before You were in it, and how You have completely changed it. Over the years You have brought peace, hope, and even joy to my life through both the good times and the bad. Lord, I know that I am not always in Your will, but it is Your good pleasure that You offer Your grace to get me back in it time and time again. I know I am going to mess up again no matter how much I try not to, but Your grace endures forever. Lead me and guide me, search me and open my heart to discover anything that is keeping me out of Your will. Strengthen me and grow me as I seek Your will, looking only to You for wisdom and guidance while You are pleased to keep me here on earth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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