January 26, 2023
Daily Devotion:
"Fully and Freely"
Ephesians 1:7-8
In Christ we are set free by the blood of his death, and so we have forgiveness of sins. How rich is God's grace, which he has given to us so fully and freely.
Why do we find it so hard to share our true self with others? One of the great fears of the human race is that if someone were to truly know us-really get to know us at the core being-then there is no possible way that they could love and respect us.
The amazing truth of our Bible study verses is that God, who knows us best, also loves us the very most. The verbs found in Ephesians 1 wonderfully describe God's love for us and are powerful expressions of the intensity of His feelings for us: He chooses us; He lavishes grace on us; He knows us-even before we were born-to be His children. We also read in this chapter that He redeems us and forgives our sins through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
What makes this love even more remarkable is that God doesn't meet our needs in a begrudging manner-I created them, I guess / have to save them-but "according to His good pleasure"(v. 9 NKJV). It pleases God to love us. Just as a parent glories in her child, so God glories in us (v. 12). But how well does God really know me? Does He really understand how bad and ugly my attitudes and actions have been? Be assured, God knows everything-and He lavishes on you with full wisdom and understanding (If the two great needs of being human are to love and be loved, then you are doubly blessed because of God's love for you. That gives you all the reasons and resources you need to love others-and yourself.
