April 16th | He Made Known to us His Plan
A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS
HE MADE KNOWN TO US HIS PLAN
Ephesians 1:8-10 “With all wisdom and understanding, He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.”
My wife and I love to read mysteries. We find it challenging to read a well written mystery seeing if we can determine who has committed the murder, stolen the jewels, etc. The gifted writer had scattered clues throughout the novel’s pages. If all fails, the last chapter will reveal the “who done it.”
Throughout the pages of the Old Testament, through His prophets God provided many prophesies. These revealed to the Old Testament people that God had a plan of salvation. It was first revealed to Adam and Eve in the Garden and recorded in Genesis 3:15. Jesus was the heart, center, and core of His plan to save sinners from eternal death.
Today’s devotional verses indicate that God made known, revealed, His plan of salvation. This God did with the sending of His Son Jesus the one He sent to save sinners. Thus, the Angel announced to the shepherds in the field outside of Bethlehem, “I have good news for you, TODAY, in the city of David a Savior has been born for you. . .” (Luke 2) At the birth of Christ all of God’s promises of a Savior reached their fulfillment. This announcement was publicly made when John the Baptist baptized Jesus. At that moment God spoke, “You are My Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22)
At that moment God “made known the mystery” of His salvation plan. It was therefore no longer a mystery. God sent Jesus into the world to fulfill all the promises He had made in the Old Testament to save sinners from eternal death. Jesus came into the world to save sinners, as you read in yesterday’s devotion.
According to God’s plan, Jesus came into the world to become the atoning sacrifice for your sins. (1 John 2:2) The Holy Spirit inspired holy writers to record the saving work of Jesus so the fulfillment of God’s plan was made known to all. By God’s grace you are the recipient of this revelation. You know that Christ lived, died, and rose again to give you a life that will never end.
Prayer: Thank You heavenly Father for fulfilling Your plan for my salvation through Your Son Jesus. Amen.
Crown Him with many crowns, The Lamb upon His throne; Hark how the heav’nly anthem drowns All music but its own. Awake, my soul, and sing Of Him who died for thee, And hail Him as thy matchless king Through all eternity.
Crown Him the virgin’s Son, The god incarnate born, Whose arm those crimson trophies won Which now His brow adorn; Fruit of the mystic rose, Yet of that rose the stem, The root whence mercy ever flows, The babe of Bethlehem.
Crown Him the Lord of love. Behold His hands and side, Rich wounds, yet visible above, In beauty glorified. No angels in the sky Can fully bear that sight, But downward bend their wond’ring eyes At mysteries so bright.
Crown Him the Lord of heav’n, Enthroned in worlds above, Dwon Him the king to whom is giv’n The wondrous name of Love. Crown Him with many crowns As thrones before Him fall; Crown Him, ye kings, with many crowns, For He is king of all.
(LSB 525)