Promise to Ponder Vol. 1 Issue 2

Ephesians 1:11-12 - …being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

predestinated - to predetermine, decide beforehand, in the NT of God decreeing from eternity, to foreordain, appoint beforehand

purpose - a setting forth of a thing, placing of it in view

worketh - to be operative, be at work, put forth power - to work for one, aid one - to effect, to display one's activity, show one's self operative

counsel - counsel, purpose

will - what one wishes or has determined shall be done - of the purpose of God to bless mankind through Christ - of what God wishes to be done by us - commands, precepts - will, choice, inclination, desire, pleasure

praise - approbation, commendation, praise

approbation – 1. Approval; commendation 2. Official approval or sanction.

Glory - opinion, estimate, whether good or bad concerning someone; in the NT always a good opinion concerning one, resulting in praise, honour, and glory magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace; majesty; a thing belonging to God; the kingly majesty which belongs to him as supreme ruler, majesty in the sense of the absolute perfection of the deity a thing belonging to Christ; the kingly majesty of the Messiah; the absolutely perfect inward or personal excellency of Christ; the majesty, a most glorious condition, most exalted state, of that condition with God the Father in heaven to which Christ was raised after he had achieved his work on earth

These verses are incredible! To put it simply, God determined, before there was time, that those who place their trust in Him, would be given strength from Him to live up to the name we were given; Christian. Jesus says if I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me. God made it the purpose of Christians to live like Christ, thus lifting Him up. If you tell someone you are a Christian then swear, drink, or participate in other sinful acts along with the world, what that tell them? It leaves the false impression that Christianity, Christians, and Christ are no different from other religions, instead of what it truly is, a relationship. The word praise in verse 11, according to the Strong’s Concordance, means approbation, commendation, praise. Our lives are to leave a GOOD taste of Christ in others! The word glory in the Strong’s Concordance means in the NT always a good opinion concerning one. We, as Christians are to leave a GOOD impression of Christ. A question to ponder, “Do I, as a Christian, when someone does something I don’t like on the road, in the store, or at the gas station, leave a good impression of Christ?” The promise in this verse is, we as Christians don’t have to try, in our own power to live up to our name. Instead it was predestined by Him who worketh meaning put forth power, to display one's activity, show one's self operative. Who exactly is He that worketh? It is Jesus Christ Himself and no one else. It is empowering to know that the God of the universe bestows upon us His name and gives us the necessary strength to carry out His predestinated will!!!