Ephesians 1.  The hope of a slave, living in Ephesus in the first century was that he might somehow win his redemption and become part of the great and powerful society in which he was a mere servant. A significant portion of the great city consisted of slaves. The churches of Ephesus probably contained many slaves. Paul used this hope as a metaphor to talk about the hope to which all believers are destined. We are destined to display the praise of God’s glorious grace (6).  Our future consists of:

1. holiness (4)
2. sonship (5)
3. bringing praise to God (6,12,14)
4. unity in Christ (10)

Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians is that they would be given insight into the power of God at work in their lives right now. Just as Christ is now exalted in the heavens as head over all things, so the church is exalted because we are his body, his fullness (16-23).

LORD, it is so easy to get caught up in the dismal world of what we are not. Reveal to us the glorious hope that we have in Christ, our inheritance. And may the destiny that we have in Christ inspire us to live as your sons today.