How can we align our lives with God's "good pleasure" mentioned here? Setting the Scene: Ephesians 1:9 in Context “ He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ ”. Paul is celebrating God’s gracious decision to reveal His saving plan in Jesus. “Good pleasure” (eudokia) speaks of God’s delight—what brings Him joy. To align with that delight, we respond to His revealed will in Christ. What Does “Good Pleasure” Mean? • Divine delight: the things God loves and approves • Holy purpose: His settled intention, never random or impulsive (Isaiah 46:10) • Christ-centered: everything that pleases the Father is summed up in His Son (Matthew 3:17) Big Picture Alignment: Embrace the Gospel 1. Believe in Christ: God’s foremost pleasure is that we “believe in the name of His Son” (1 John 3:23). 2. Rest in grace: “It is by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:8). Refusing self-righteousness thrills God’s heart. 3. Live for His praise: “to the praise of His glorious grace” (Ephesians 1:6). Our lives are meant to echo heaven’s applause of Christ. Daily Practices That Delight the Father • Renew the mind (Romans 12:1-2) – Present your body as a living sacrifice. – Let Scripture, not culture, shape thinking. • Walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-25) – Depend moment-by-moment; He produces the fruit that pleases God. – The Spirit’s leading always exalts Christ (John 16:14). • Pursue holiness (1 Thessalonians 4:1-4) – “You should walk and please God” (v. 1). – Guard purity; reject anything that dulls spiritual appetite. • Overflow with gratitude (1 Thessalonians 5:18) – Thanksgiving acknowledges the goodness of His will. – Gratitude repels complaint, which contradicts His pleasure (Philippians 2:14-15). • Do good works prepared in advance (Ephesians 2:10) – Serve others in tangible ways: generosity (Hebrews 13:16), hospitality (1 Peter 4:9), justice (Micah 6:8). – Each act reflects His character to the world. • Remain in fellowship with believers (Hebrews 10:24-25) – Mutual encouragement stirs us to “love and good works.” – Unity showcases the wisdom of God’s plan (Ephesians 3:10). Motivation and Power: God Works in Us “For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). • He energizes both desire and action. • Our responsibility: cooperate, not compete, with His grace. Measuring Alignment Ask: Am I… – Growing in love for Christ and His Word? (John 14:21) – Bearing Spirit-produced fruit? (John 15:8) – Living transparently obedient? (James 1:22-25) When these are present, we can be confident we’re walking in what delights our Father. The End Goal: All Things in Christ Ephesians 1:10 reveals the climax of God’s pleasure: “to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ.” Aligning with that grand purpose means making Jesus the organizing center of every thought, decision, and relationship—today, and until He returns. |
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