By Pr Herna Kong
Being chosen by God to be His holy people is a priceless spiritual blessing, so we ought to treasure it.
In Ephesians 1:1-14, Paul emphasises how wonderful it is to be God’s elect. Through Jesus Christ, God has redeemed us and forgiven us of our sins so that we can become His, and inherit eternal life. God has chosen to save us, not because of our worthiness, but because of His sovereign will. The apostle Paul is very grateful to God for that, and he invites us to praise God who, in Jesus Christ, has given us these spiritual blessings.
We are marked in God with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance of heaven (vv.13-14). The blessing of the Spirit’s presence in our hearts is a foretaste of the greater blessings we will enjoy when we are eternally united with our Lord Jesus Christ.
What priceless blessings we have received from God as His chosen people! It is therefore right for us to live responsibly as His children by living a holy life to the praise of God.
Living a holy life to the praise of God means living differently from those who are unbelievers, and being a blessing to others. We must live according to His will. We must not do things that will grieve Him. We must not be a stumbling block to others. In His grace, God will give us the strength and enable us to live as His chosen people in the midst of the fallen world.
Living in accordance with God’s will is not an option; it is an expression of our gratitude, faith, and obedience to God as people who treasure the priceless spiritual blessings.
Questions for Our Reflection: Think about our life. Do we enjoy our spiritual blessings that are in Christ? Is there any sin in us that we find hard to get rid of? In what ways can we practise living in the freedom of His love?
Prayer: Thank You, God, for Your spiritual blessings to us by freely giving us Your Son so we can be part of Your family. Help us to honour You for all that You have done for us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.