Ephesians 1:1-14

Be Still: Holy Spirit, come and speak to me today. Teach me more about Jesus and make me more like him. Amen

Read: Ephesians 1:1-14 

‘...so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.' (v.12)

Encounter: What are your initials? Mine are N.J.D. Our initials identify us. They mean something super significant to us. When we see them, we recognise they symbolise and point back to us! 

The famous composer J.S.Bach wrote the initials S.D.G at the end of his musical compositions, as did others such as Handel. These were the initials for the Latin phrase soli deo gloria - the glory of God alone. They wanted their music, their life’s work to be for the praise of God alone. They wanted what they had created to point solely to the Creator of all things. They wanted their time, energy and effort all to serve God.

Our reading today is one of the most incredibly rich passages of scripture in the New Testament. It is an amazing read of all that God has done for us in Christ Jesus. It ends by inviting a response from us – to live a life that exists for the praise of his glory. 

This invitational message about our ultimate purpose is a continuation of the Old Testament’s teachings. The people of God under Moses were saved (rescued from Egypt) in order to worship, to praise. Now, in Christ we too have been saved. Why? to worship, to praise.

Apply: Is your life offered up fully 'to the praise of his glory'? How can you ensure that the impact you are having on those around you and in your work or study is reflecting his glory? What would it look like to put S.D.G on more areas of your life? Finances, relationships, work, future hopes?

Devote: Thank you Holy Spirit that you are powerfully at work in me, shaping and enabling me to shine out more of God’s glory. May my life point to God so that all will see his goodness revealed fully in the work of Jesus in my life.