“… having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth — in Him.” Ephesians 1:9-10
Through the preaching of the Gospel, God makes known to us the mystery of His will, His divine plan to save us from eternal death and damnation by sending His only-begotten Son to die for us and atone for our sins and then rise again so that we might trust in Him, be pardoned, and be gathered together in Christ’s Church and receive everlasting life — all for Jesus’ sake and through faith in Him!
Grant that I hear and believe Your saving Word, O God, and trust in Christ Jesus, my Savior. In His name, I pray. Amen.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love …” Ephesians 1:3-4
As believers, we bless and praise God the Father for all the blessings He has showered upon us as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. These blessings are in accord with God’s choosing us to be His own through faith in Christ before the world’s creation, that we should be holy and blameless in His sight through faith in Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross.
We praise You, dear heavenly Father, for graciously choosing us to be Your own through faith in Christ Jesus, Your Son and our Savior. Amen
“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Luke 1:31-33
An angel of God appeared to the Virgin Mary and told her that she would conceive in her womb and give birth to a Son she was to name Jesus, meaning Jehovah (or Yahweh) saves. He would be called the Son of the Highest because He is the eternal Son of God, and he would reign on the throne of His father David because he is a true man, descended from King David through the Virgin Mary. The kingdom of Jesus is the eternal kingdom made without hands, prophesied in Daniel 2:44.
Jesus — true God, Son of the Highest, and true man, born of the Virgin Mary — You came into this world to be my Savior by taking my place under the law and suffering the just punishment for my sins. Grant that I look to You and Your atoning sacrifice on the cross in faith and be pardoned and spared in the coming judgment. Amen.
“Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to Your word to Your servant. Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; for Your law is my delight.” Psalm 119:76-77
Though the demands of God’s law condemn us for our many shortcomings, God promises mercy and forgiveness to those who look to Him in faith, trusting in the atoning sacrifice of Christ Jesus, God the Son made man. Though the law condemns us to eternal death and torment because of our sins, God’s tender mercies in Christ comfort us with forgiveness and give us eternal life.
Comfort me, O God, with Your merciful kindness in Christ Jesus. Let Your tender mercies give me life through faith in my Savior. Amen.
“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” Psalm 139:13-16
Though God created the first man from the dust of the ground and the first woman from the man’s rib, He formed each of us in our mother’s womb. We were no accident. God created and intricately formed each of our bodies and gave us life. Not only did He give us life, but the days of our earthly lives were already known by Him and written in His book before a single one of them existed.
You knew me, O God, and formed me in my mother’s womb. Your intricate creative work is amazing! Even the days of my life were known and determined by You before I lived a single day. Grant me the wisdom to use my body and the time You have given me in this world to worship and honor You and look to You for my salvation. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
