November 17, 2025

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will….”

(Ephesians 1.4-5)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

As we pause again for our yearly journey toward Thanksgiving, at least those under the influence of the history of this nation, let us give pause and consider well that for which we ought to be truly thankful. In order to do so, we ought to consider the inception and not merely the conception of who we are. We, as the human race regardless of color, gender, race, size and ethnicity, exist because God first thought of us before He even set in motion the creative process which brought us to life. That miracle of life is recreated in the womb of women all around the world. It ought to be a time-honored event which serves as the evidence of God’s intention for His creation to be holy and blameless in His sight. That alone is a concept difficult for me to imagine. Yet it is the goal and objective of God for our lives. It is a goal and objective which God fully devoted Himself to as the outpouring of His very essence which is expressed in the nature of true love- pure, holy and blameless.

I was challenged this morning in my own devotional reading to re-embrace the introduction presented by the writer of the Letter to the Church in Ephesus. In it we can find the reason for our true thanksgiving. That reason is, as I mentioned above, God’s commitment to fulfill His intention for our creation. God purposed to be a creative and loving God giving of Himself in an outward manner that which was inwardly at work in Him. Many times, we hear such words in describing the experience of baptism. It is an outward sign of an inward reality that is at work to transform us into who we are truly purposed to be. It is not simply, as some may understand it and present it, an introduction in a world of faith in Jesus Christ. It lacks meaning and power if it is reduced to a “thing we do because it is expected of us in saying Jesus is the Christ.” Baptism, as with thanksgiving, cannot be taken lightly nor casually. In do that, we miss the full impetus of what both mean and do in the world.

What I appreciate about that prelude to the rest of the writing of Ephesians is the focus it puts on God’s forethought. The confusion has come over the ages in the understanding and application of the concept of predestination. I have no intention of debating such with the theologues of history past and present. I am wanting to simply reflect upon what the Spirit says to me as I immerse myself in God’s Word. Take a moment to hear God’s desire to determine our outcome as a loving creator and Heavenly Father. As a father myself, and as imperfect as I am with no desire to be imperfect, did I not have a goal in mind for my children to be all they could be? Of course, I had and have no idea what it is that God had created in them to become outwardly in the world as to vocation and avocation. However, what He desired for them in terms of His Kingdom is not a mystery. It also cannot be hidden. It is no secret. From before the beginning of “world time,” God desired that His creation be completed in us, with us and through us. We are not so much a “finished product” as a reading of both Genesis 1 and 2 might be understood. Instead, we are a finishing product given meaning, purpose and resource to accomplish the task set before us. We ought to be thankful for such a trust as this and for the One who believes in us, even just the thought of us.

God created us with a goal in mind. That goal is to be with Him forever as our choice and not His manipulation. As the very nature and character of love, God’s sincere desire is to share eternity with Him on earth as it is in Heaven. We have a place to call our eternal home. We are thankful, as mighty ones of God, that this world on earth is not our home nor our final resting place. We have a promise of welcome and acceptance already revealed to us, “Well done, My ‘good’ and faithful servant.” It is the same promise given to Jesus of Nazareth, the man of God, who is Jesus the Christ, the Son of God. He is our template for understanding who and what we are. Within the theme of baptism, Jesus can be understood and the baptismal font in which we are immersed into the newness of life. With that new life, we can truly be thankful for we are included and empowered in the greatest act of love anyone will ever know. What is that great act? It is the finishing of creation where in its final stages all things will be made new. Let’s keep that in mind as we continue to explore baptism as a prelude to thanksgiving in the days to come.

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness but as righteous works of faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name. AMEN.