Ephesians 1:4-14

Clive Urquhart

I recently bought a 27 year old car. At first, the timeless shape and classic look were very pleasing to the eye. The fact it didn't have power steering or that the clutch was heavy and the gearbox very particular in the way you had to change gear didn't really bother me. It was all part of the fun of owning and driving a classic.

But as the days went by one little niggle after another began to appear. The starting became erratic, door handles stopped working, windows came off their winders, leaks revealed themselves, the brakes decided to seize up, rust began to show itself and so on.

I began to fix each problem as it arose but then another one would appear to takes its place. I began to wonder if I would ever get the car how I wanted it to be - like new! For this to happen it was going to need a total restoration. But even then it would still only be like new and not brand new.

Parallel that with what God does in our lives -

He loves to take our lives and says, 'I can do something fantastic with this one.' Instead of starting with all the old bits and then embarking on a restoration project, He puts to death the old life we once had and gives us a completely new one - His life. He knows just tweaking a few things isn't going to do it.

Ephesians 1:4-14

• He chooses us - picks us out.


• To be holy and blameless in His sight.


• Adopts us as His sons through Jesus Christ.


• Because He was pleased to and wanted to.


• We have forgiveness through His blood.


• Because of the riches of His grace.


• Which He lavishes on us with all wisdom & understanding.


• So that our lives honour and praise Him.


• Having believed we have been marked with the Holy Spirit.


• Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

During the next week have a read of Ephesians 1:3 - 2:10 and Romans 6, 7 & 8. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you and give you a greater understanding of what God's word says about you and how you can live more fully in the power of the truth.

When you spend time with Jesus, thank Him for who He has made you in Him and for all He has done for you. This way you focus on who He sees you as and not how you might see yourself.

Have a great week.