Blessed in Christ - Ephesians 1

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ... Ephesians 1:1-3

Probably the most prevalent image of God in scripture is of God as Father, a parent who conceives and provides for, who watches and worries over his children. In the New Testament, this fatherhood is creatively reimagined as an adoptive relationship. New members are continually being added to the family, not by birth but by rebirth through faith and in the waters of baptism.

In our church, we saw this happen last week with a young woman named Iris, and will see it a few weeks hence with newborn Diego. All because God’s parental vision for us is founded in love. You have seen the way new parents look at their children, beloved and perfect. How much more is this the case with a parent whose love is beyond measure.

All God’s children share in that love as we share in God’s welcome table. It’s a big family, a big table, and all are welcome.

P.S. After writing this short post and finding the illustration, I located the original source of the photo. Art ain't got nothing on life. God...is...good. Read the article.

Photo:
NFL linebacker Demarcus Ware holds his daughter Marley, named after Demarcus’ favorite reggae artist. In 2008 Mr. Ware and his wife Taniqua adopted Marley after three failed pregnancies. Photo by Images of Grace Photography, published with Greg Bishop's "Cowboys’ Ware Fulfills a Challenge for Fatherhood," in the New York Times, June 15, 2008.
 

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