The Journey Within: Devotions for Inner Renewal

SUNDAY, 1 JUNE 2025

TEXT: Ephesians 1:1-14

1. Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:

2. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

3. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

4. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love

5. he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—

6. to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

7. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace

8. that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

9. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,

10. to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

11. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,

12. in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

13. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,

14. who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

(New International Version Holy Bbible)

TOPIC: BELIEVERS’ UNSURPASSED BLESSINGS IN CHRIST

This introduction summarizes what Apostle Paul was about to share with the believers in Ephesus: “All who have trusted in Christ possess the priceless bounty of all ‘spiritual blessings’” (1:3).

Yet many continue to live like paupers. Paul writes this epistle to make Christians more aware of their heavenly wealth in Christ and to motivate them to draw upon those resources in their earthly walk.

Our reading for today explains the spiritual blessings available to those who have genuinely placed their trust in Christ (vs. 3, 4).

These blessings have been available in Christ since the foundation of the world. Believers’ spiritual blessings are not afterthoughts. We shouldn’t fear what the devil can do if we walk in holiness ad without blame before God.

QUESTION: Do you recognize your unsurpassed blessings in Christ?

PRAYER: O Lord, make me to always remember Your unsurpassed blessings in my life, in Jesus’ name. Amen.