OUR DAILY BREAD: NO BRAGGING RIGHTS

[cimi]

JUNE 16
SATURDAY


READ:
Ephesians 1:3-12
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He chose us in Him
before the foundatin
of the world, that we
should be holy and
without blame before
Him. ___Ephesians 1:4
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My dad was the most important person in my world when I was a boy. He was a repected pastor, a good preacher, and a kind and gentle leader. His gifts were recognized by several boards on which he served. Wheaton College rewarded his service to Christ with an honorary doctorate. People often said, "Oh, you're Joe Stowell's son" or introduced me as "the son of Dr. Stowell." I was proud of my dad and was so honored to be his son that, for years, being known as his child was my source of significance.

That's but a glimpse of what it means to be satisfied with the significance that comes from our position as a child of the King. Because of God's great love for us, He adopted us as His sons and daughters (Eph. 1:5). There is no greater honor. No material possession, fame, power, or position can compare. When we embrace this reality, we are set free from the temptation to manufacture and manipulate our own significance.

Thos who are in Christ have a significance in Him. We can rejoice because we are called by His name. "He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world" (v.4). When we belong to the King of Kings, we need no other bragging rights! __Joe Stowell
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~We magnify our Father God~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~With songs of thoughtful praise:~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~As grateful children we confess~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~How perfect are His ways. __Ball~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Children of the King find their significance in Christ.

****************Today's Bible Reading ___Ephesians 1:3-12********

3 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, 4 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, 5 Having
predestined us to adoption
as sons by Jesus Christ to
Himself, according to the
good pleasure of His will,
6 to the praise of the glory
of His grace, by which He
made us accepted in the
Beloved. 7 In Him we have
redemption through His
blood, the forgiveness of
sins, according to the riches
of His grace 8 which He
made to abound toward us
in all wisdom and prudence,
9 having made known to
us the mystery of His will,
according to His good
pleasure which He purposed
in Himself, 10 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.
11 In Him also we have
obtained an inheritance,
being predestined according
to the purpose of Him who
works all things according
to the counsel of His will,
12 that we who first trusted
in Christ should be to the
praise of His glory

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Two small words in the Greek New Testament are cosmic in their
implicatioins for the believer. En Christo, lieterally, "in Christ," refers
to the believer's position in the Lord (Eph. 1-3). The grammar means
that we are in the spiritual sphere of His authority. Jesus Christ was
victorious over sin and death and sits at the side of His Father in the
"heavenly places" (v.3). The believer shares in His spiritual victory.
__HDF