Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 17 – Ephesians 1:11-14 – Our Inheritance – Growing As Disciples
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, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 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, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:11-14 (NIV)
A Promise
You chose me, there is no doubt about that. I did choose you. You are correct. But what makes you so certain that I chose you? Well, it wasn’t my plan to choose you, that is for sure. I was walking on a path that led away from you, not toward you. I wanted to do my own thing. I wanted to live my own life. I had my own thoughts and plans and desires. You were not in any of them. I was determined to set my own course. My entire focus was on myself. I was self-centered, self-indulgent, and self-sufficient. I wanted no help. I would receive no counsel. One might say that I was living as my very own god. Me, myself and I was on the throne of my life, there is no doubt about that. That is true. That is how you were living. So, I deserve no credit in coming to you. No, you do not.
You allowed me to hear your word. You made me able to hear your Good News. At just the right time, you helped me to come to believe in the Gospel of your salvation. Yes, I did. What was right about the time? I had reached the end of my rope. I had hit rock bottom. The foolish and unwise life I was living left me bruised and battered and broken. I had nowhere to turn. I had nowhere to go. There was only one direction I could look. There was only one who could hear my cry. Which was? To you, you heard my cry. You answered my prayer. You had been pursuing me all along and I did not know it. You had been drawing me to you and I could not perceive it. Yes, I did pursue you. Yes, I did draw you to myself.
So, what happened to you? You turned my life upside down. You changed my course. You turned my life around. You helped me to come to believe in you and place all my faith in you. I confessed my sin. You save my soul. You made me to be your very own. You are my Savior and Lord. You are my God and King. Yes, I am. What else did I do for you? You filled me with you Holy Spirit. By your Spirit, you are now leading and guiding me through life. I am now following you to where you lead me and doing what you ask of me. I am now seeking to live a life that brings praise and honor and glory to you. I am now living the life of salvation you have secured for me. Yes, you are, and your life of salvation has begun and will continue on until forever because I have place and an inheritance secured in heaven for you. You have my Holy Spirit in you as a promise and a guarantee. Thank you, Lord.
Lord, thank you for helping me to hear your word, the Good News, the Gospel of my salvation. Thank you for helping to believe in you as my Savior and Lord. Thank you for filling me with your Holy Spirit and forever securing my inheritance in heaven with you. Amen
Key Question… How did you come to put all your faith and hope in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord?
Living It Out… Hear the word of God, the Gospel of your salvation, and believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.
Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you received the Holy Spirit as you have believed in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.
Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you came to believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.
Prayer To Bless Others… May you hear the word of God, the Gospel of your salvation, and believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior.
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