Tuesday, April 3, 2007

God glories in me???

Over a month ago I was meditating on Ephesians chapter one and I came across the verse ,". . . so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power towards us who believe. . ." This caught my eye. In the context Paul is praying for the Ephesians he says, "For this reason, I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus, which exist among you, and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you while making mention of you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power towards us who believe..." Paul in reflecting on the gospel and knowing that they believe and seeing their love for the saint rejoices and prays to the Father that He would give them a "spirit" of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. He prays that God would open the eyes of their heart so that they mayknow three things. What are those three things? First that they would know the hope of His calling. We learn more of this calling and what hopes are tied to it in the following chapters. But then he gives the second which is to know what are the riches of the glory of God inheritance in us the saints!!! This is UNBELIEVABLE! All my days I have been told of the riches of God and the glory of God and to glory in Him. But never that the Father glories in us?!?! How is this possible? What is it in me or in any of the saints for God to glory in? The answer is nothing! But yet He glories in His inheritance in us "the saints" because we have been redeemed by His sons blood! The value in us is in what we have been purchased with! The value in us is in what our redemptions communicates to all creation. The whole chapter continues to speak of God causing salvation on whom He chooses according to "His will" and according to "His purpose" and according to "His good pleasure". Then is goes on to say in verse13-14, "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, having also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the REDEMPTION of God's own POSSESSION, to the praise of His glory." This is in direct accordance with Paul's prayer and this is why he says in the following verse, "for this reason...". God can glory in us because we are the REDEEMING of His own possessions! God can glory in us because it is in us that the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness is made known in the ages to come. Because it is in the redeeming of us that God's manifold wisdom is made known in all the heavens and to the rulers and authorities there. God's glorying in us is virutally rejoicing in Himself and in His handy work and His glory being made known to all creation and in this God is glorified! This is how God can glory in His inheritance in the saints. Truly God is worthy of this glory and this praise is due Him.

5 comments:

Greg said...

Stephen,

I am glad you blog is up and running. Thanks for your thoughts - I look forward to reading more. Sure, you can link my blog to yours.

Greg

Sharon said...

Col 1:27. "...Christ in you, the hope of glory." Our ONLY hope of glory :-)

Good to read your thoughts
Love,
Mom

Stephen said...

thanks sharon! great passage to coincide with my thoughts!

Anonymous said...

I can try to understand or comprehend this "unbelievable" truth but my mind is unable.......? The interpreter (the Holy Spirit) must enable my thoughts through faith to revel in this mystery transending human or "natural" experience. I welcome your thoughts.

alex said...

I love it Stephen. Great post and a great point. Miss you like crazy bro!

Alex