You Are…

One year my friend Bill Broyles led our Sunday school class in a study of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. He did a pretty cool exercise with us. He had us look at the first three chapters and list all the things God has done for us in Christ. It is amazing – for three chapters – Paul goes on and on about who we already are, what’s already been done for us, what’s already true.

Paul tells us we are blessed, chosen, predestined, given, redeemed, forgiven, included, marked, made alive, saved, raised up, seated with, created, brought near; we are fellow citizens, members, being built together. There is not one single command for the first half of the letter. He doesn’t tell us to do anything. He simply recalls who we are and how much we are loved.

Bill reminded the class that Paul writes the letter this way because he knew that what we believe about ourselves ultimately shapes how we live.

So what do you believe about yourself? Regardless of your past, Paul claims that you are loved, chosen, blessed, forgiven, redeemed…. May you hear and believe.

Our prayer today was written by Bishop Richard of Chichester, Chancellor of Oxford University in the early 1200s. Let us pray: Thanks be to you, Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits which you have won for us, for all the pains and insults which you have borne for us. O most merciful Redeemer, Friend, and Brother, may we know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly, day by day. Amen.