God’s approval is not earned; it is given in Christ.
Good morning. Today’s Bible verse is Ephesians 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ…”
How many people on this earth truly know God? Many speak of a god, many practice religion, and many claim to follow the God of the Bible — yet they do not know Him. Why? Because they have rejected the only way to the Father: faith in the risen Lord Jesus Christ, according to the gospel of grace revealed to Paul.
People search for God through effort, ritual, morality, and religious performance. But none of these brings a person into a relationship with the Father. Only those who have believed Paul’s gospel — salvation by grace through faith alone — are brought near, forgiven, and made His own.
Take a moment today to read Ephesians 1:3–7. Notice what God has already done for us:
• He has blessed us
• He has chosen us
• He has predestined us
• He has made us accepted
• He has redeemed us
• He has forgiven us
Every verb is past tense.
Every action is God’s.
Every blessing is ours in Christ.
We did not earn any of this.
We did not deserve any of this.
We cannot add to any of this.
Before we ever lifted a hand in service, before we ever prayed a prayer, before we ever opened a Bible, God had already placed us in Christ — and in Christ, we are fully accepted.
Ephesians 1:7 declares: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”
Not according to our performance.
Not according to our faithfulness.
Not according to our worthiness.
“According to the riches of His grace.”
Dear brothers and sisters, this is our identity.
We are forgiven.
We are redeemed.
We are holy and without blame before Him.
We are accepted in the Beloved — now and forever.
So today, let us praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Not to earn His favor, but because we already have it.
Not to gain His love, but because He has freely given it.
Not to prove ourselves worthy, but because Christ has made us His own.
The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Eph 1:3.
Meditation:
Lord, teach me to rest in what You have already done. Help me live from acceptance, not toward it.
Reflection Question:
Which part of Ephesians 1:3–7 speaks most deeply to your identity in Christ, and why?