Stress Test Devotional May 4
May 04, 2024
EPHESIANS 1:5-9 | 5 He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight 9 he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ,
The gifts God wants to bestow on us don’t end with a sense of being blessed, chosen, holy, and blameless. He also wants us to feel connected and familial, permanent adoptees into His family. He hopes we’ll feel redeemed and forgiven, and therefore released from the crippling emotions of guilt and shame and the dubious practices of self-justification and denial. He wants us to understand and to be informed about the character of creation and meaning of life itself. There is assurance and confidence in grasping that His deep and loving purpose is the first and final force in creation and history.
Do you feel connected and adopted? Redeemed and forgiven? Free of guilt and shame? Informed and assured?
