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Daily Devotions

Ephesians

Ephesians 
Day 
Day 15

"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…"

Text: Ephesians 1:4

AN INTRIGUINGLY LONG SENTENCE

The apostle Paul was a profoundly deep thinker! That is the impression he leaves each and every serious reader of his epistles. His writings are sometimes made harder because he wrote very long sentences at times. In the Greek text, Ephesians 1:3-14 is just one very long sentence.

Each person has his own special style of writing. The following things may be observed about Paul’s way of writing.

1. Complexity of thought pattern

Paul’s thought pattern was truly complex. His style of writing probably reflects the way he thought things through!

2. A very rich subject

The subject Paul introduced was wonderfully rich and multi-faceted. Any subject on “The Blessings of God” would not be easy to describe in short sentences.

3. Caught up with euphoria

It is also possible that Paul was caught up with stimulating euphoric feelings, and his pen just flowed even as he thought about God’s blessings.

4. An acceptable practice in letter writing

Let us remember that Paul’s epistles were essentially personal letters that he wrote from his heart to his readers. There is no single way to write a personal missive. We must concede that Paul was well within his right to write as he did- even if that meant long and complicated thought structures.

STUDYING THE THEME “THE BLESSINGS OF GOD”

How does one begin to fathom the theme “The Blessings of God”? The psalmists of old often focused on the material blessings they received from God (Cf. Psalm 103, 104). Paul decided to take a very different approach.

“Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world…”
EPHESIANS 1:4

1. “Before the foundations of the world”

That is a truly profound thought to begin the study of this subject. He could not have traced the roots of this thought further. This understanding would have been nothing less than knowledge “revealed by the Spirit”.

2. Forethought

God’s blessings are not given to us as “an afterthought”. His blessings were thought out and planned “before the foundation of the world”. Only God could attempt and accomplish this feat!

3. A Challenge to appreciate afresh the Lord’s blessings

Let us stand in awe and wonder as we ponder this profound thought of God’s blessings.