Reading Plan:
Ephesians 1


Our Thoughts:
The Book of Ephesians is the first of the Apostle Paul’s letters in the New Testament known as the “Prison Letters.” In Acts 21 – 28 Luke tells us about Paul’s journey from being arrested in Jerusalem to defending himself before Ceasar in Rome. During this journey in chains, likely toward the end while he was under house arrest in Rome, Paul writes the letters now preserved in the New Testament as Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.

Paul’s imprisonment wasn’t spent locked away in a jail cell waiting for a trial. He was beaten, flogged, mocked, avoided assassination attempts, and even shipwrecked. His house arrest in Rome was not a walk in the park either. At every moment he would have been physically chained to a Roman soldier that was trained to hate him. No moment of privacy. No freedom to move or act. Bound by the weight of oppression. It is under these circumstances that Paul writes the words, “BLESSED be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has BLESSED US, in Christ with every spiritual BLESSING in the heavenly places” Ephesians 1:3.

This man has been stripped of his freedom and his dignity, bound to an armed soldier that sees him as an enemy, and yet here he is writing about blessings. Wow! It is one thing to survive seasons of pressure, but Paul almost seems to be thriving in it. Ok, I’ll admit that thriving is an exaggeration here. Paul’s circumstances are truly terrible, but what he is demonstrating here is the ability to have a mindset of blessing while under intense pressure.

As we read through Ephesians this week together, my hope and prayer are that we can begin to cultivate our own mindset of seeing the blessing no matter what pressure or bondage we might be experiencing. The first chapter already gives us a great start.

How can you find blessings even when you feel bound?

- Focus on the eternal purpose of God. Ephesians 1:3-14. Paul doesn’t see his chains as anything other than chains. He isn’t pretending like what is going on in his life is enjoyable. He is, however, reminding himself and his listeners that God has an eternal purpose to make His glory and goodness known. Paul understands that nothing can stop God’s purpose. If it takes chains to fulfill God’s purpose then so be it, because God’s glory and our eternal purpose are far more significant than momentary pressure.

- Find a reason to give thanks. Ephesians 1:15-18. For a moment Paul is able to turn the attention off of his situation and give thanks for the faith of his friends. His joy in what God is doing through the church in Ephesus takes his mind far from his own affliction. I think about a hymn I sang in church growing up that said, “Count your many blessings name them one by one. Count your many blessings see what God has done.”

- Don’t forget the victory of Jesus. Ephesians 1:19-23. No matter how weighty or uncomfortable the chains might feel, don’t forget that Jesus has already won the ultimate victory over sin and death. He stands victorious as ruler over all things. While we might not see the full effect of that victory until eternity, the victory is still shared with those who follow Jesus.



More Questions:
• What do you have to give thanks for in this season? Take some time and write them out one by one. You will be amazed at all God has done, and is doing, in your life.


Prayer:
We give you praise and honor today because we know that no matter what pressure or chains we might be under you have already won the victory, Lord. Help us to have a mindset of blessing to see all the good you have done and are doing even when life is difficult.


Author: Kyle Warren