Such a Heart!

I was at the front side of my desk this morning turning on a lamp when my eye landed on the furthest book in my row of books; it was The Clear Word version of the Bible. I have not opened this particular Bible in a very long time and its dusty condition bore witness to such. 

I picked it up and as I did I noticed a lone yellow tab marking a page. I opened the Bible to that mark and there highlighted in yellow was the following passage in Ephesians 1:4-7 (I’ve included verse 8.)

“Before this world was created, God determined that all who believed on His Son should be saved, and that we should be holy and blameless in His sight. Because of His love, God decided to secure out destiny by adopting us as His children through Jesus Christ, according to His good pleasure and will. Let us praise God for His glorious grace which He freely gave us in Christ, the One He so dearly loves. It is through His blood that we have redemption and forgiveness of sins according to the riches of God’s grace which He has lavished upon us and through which He has given us wisdom and understanding.”

I read that and then I read it again, and again.

God, out of love, planned our salvation and adoption as His children through Jesus Christ before creating the world! If that does not speak to His love for us, I don’t know what does. But, if that was not enough, He then showers us with grace, redemption, forgiveness, wisdom, and understanding.

Ephesians 1 is a letter, and it begins with praise and thanksgiving offered to God.

Paul, once called Saul, is celebrating all the spiritual “blessings” available to all believers in Jesus, the Anointed One. He knows more than anyone the redemptive power that heaven can bestow.

Saul had been a terrible persecutor of Christians before his conversion experience on the road to Damascus, after which he became a follower of Jesus Christ, and his name became Paul.

Are you ready for a conversion experience? Are you ready for your “road to Damascus”?

Perhaps our readiness for a 'road to Damascus' lies not just in expecting a sudden revelation but in being open to conversion, growth, and the unexpected moments that shape our lives.

Embrace the possibilities of change, because sometimes, the most profound conversions happen when we turn our face toward Heaven.

I will close today with verse 3:

“Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One, who grants us every spiritual blessing in these heavenly realms where we live in the Anointed—not because of anything we have done, but because of what He has done for us.” The Voice version

by Jeanette Stark – Monday, December 4, 2023