Ephesians: Paul Keeps Bringing Us Back to God

Ephesians 1:9—“Making known to us the mystery (secret) of His will (of His plan), (of His purpose). [And it is this:] In accordance with His good pleasure (His merciful intention) which He had previously purposed and set forth in Him.”  The Amplified Bible.  I am using the Amplified Bible because I love seeing what other words are meant or used.    

Paul keeps bringing us back to God!  His secret, plan, purpose…His good pleasure/intention which he had previously purposed and set forth in Him (Messiah). Isn’t it amazing!  From the foundation of the world, His original plan was the Messiah.  How would you like to have such a large plan hanging over your head for all that time?  Once God has planned a specific thing, it is set.  Jeremiah 29:11New International Version (NIV):   For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  It is set.  

Why then, do we have such struggles?  John 10:10: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”  We look for it all to be great here, and in a way it is.  We have to learn to live in the “In this world we shall have troubles, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” John 16:33.  

Paul keeps bringing us back to God!  It really takes that because that is the only way we will understand His purpose, will, plan.  We have a way of turning it all about humanity and this world view.  The best view we can have is this one: Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…and all the other stuff will be added, Matthew 6:33.

God makes known to us His mysteries.  Remember the story of Abraham?  God said: shall I hide from Abraham that which I am going to do in destroying Sodom and Gomorrah?  Is it not amazing that God wants to communicate His plans to us.  Paul keeps bring us back to God so we will understand.

Here is another point to remember:  Phil. 3:20; I am a citizen of heaven.  We have to know the truth about God before we can understand the truth about us and our identity in God.  Ephesians keeps sharing more and more info about God, His plans, and our place…we are citizens of heaven.  The armor of God that we will get to wear will have much more meaning to us  if we understand what comes before it.  Otherwise, it is something we will think we can use rather than Someone Else’s garments that we can wear.  We have to keep coming back to God.