Not Reluctant: Showing His Plans

“And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.” (Ephesians 1:9-10)

Again today we hear more about God’s pleasure, his delight, what makes him happy. Part of the reason he is not a reluctant Father is because including us in his family – adopting us as his kids – is for his pleasure. It makes him happy.

leaf_350_bBut in today’s verse, his pleasure (or desire or intention) seems to have motivated him to include us in the “mystery” of Christ and/or to bring to pass his long-hidden plan to rescue us, to forgive our sins through the blood of Jesus, to redeem us as his own children – and eventually to restore peace and order on the earth under Jesus’ rule.

He wants us to understand what’s going on because he loves us, because he seems to be excited about it, because he has engineered the day when everything will finally be as it should. And then we will be with him forever.

Think: Why do you think it’s easier for people to think of God as having strong negative emotions instead of strong positive ones? Do you usually think of God as an emotional being? Why or why not?

Pray: Thank God for making known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure. And thank him, too, that all of his plans will succeed at exactly the right time.

Do: Think about a few of the things that please you most. Then make a quick list of the things Ephesians 1 has shown us that please God.