The halfbaked Bard

Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession. Eph:1:13-14 The process starts with belief. Once you believe, you are marked ( infact you were marked - past tense. That in itself is another writing). Marked with a seal ie. the promised Holy Spirit. Seal is something which denotes ownership or belonging. The Lord's possession are we (v:14). His precious property. He has put His seal of affirmation upon us, so that the devil cannot lay claim. The presence of the Holy Spirit in your life is the evidence , the guarantee that you belong to Him. Is the Holy Spirit active in your life? Are you receptive and responsive to the nudgings of the third person of Trinity? The Holy Spirit of God. How serious am I about the presence of this Holy One in my life? As a friend. As an Advocate. Who influences my conscience, who shows the correct path. Who ...

Eph:1:9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Christ. He is not a stingy God, that He would want us to force open His closed fist and find out what He has hidden from us. But His will, He is willing to reveal to us according to His good pleasure, that He purposed through Jesus Christ. A loving Father, willing to reveal His mysterious will, out of His love to one rebellious son. The son is still rebellious, but the Father is willing. The Father's love allures, but the son is still allieanated. But still the Father is willing to reveal. Not forced out of compulsion. Not forced out of obligation. But forced out of love to the rebellious son. Fully out of good pleasure. Which father would do that, but for the unending eternal source of love. He is love. That is why He is able to do it. He is good. That is why. He is true. He has promised. And He is faithful. He will not defer. He will not deter. He will not change. ...

Grace is glorious because it comes from the glorious Father. Grace is freely given. Grace has been lavished upon us. Eph:1:6-7 Image credit: https://thinke.org/blog/3-bible-verses-that-teach-us-3-things-about-grace

To be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ in accordance with His pleasure and will. Eph:1:5 Adopted as His sons. When I was a rebel. When I was His arch enemy, bound enemy. Let it sink in. This describes a glimpse of His love to me. Through Jesus Christ, I am brought into the fold, while I was still far away. Included in Christ (v:13) Even after being adopted I would go back to my old ways. He knew it. Still He loved me unendingly. He knew I would betray Him for things cheaper than thirty silver coins. Even for an opinion which would later flush away. For that I would deny Him. He knew it beforehand. Still He chose to love. Still He chose to forgive. Is this not the epitome of unconditional Agape love? To love despite the actions. To extend forgiveness despite knowing beforehand the betrayal. To adopt into His bosom despite knowing I would still rebel. If this not be love, then what is? Tell me, where you would find a better love. Image courtesy: https://www.freepik.co...

In love He predestined us. Eph:1:4-5 Predestination is a controversial word. It questions God's sovereignty. It challenges man's free will. But predestination is a good word for me. Because I never deserved to be predestined. Because it only involves the love of God. The unending love of God who chose me even before I existed. A predestination not affected by my 'goodness' or 'badness'. A predestination that depends only on God and His unchanging character. This predestination is based solely on God'so e. And that will never change. Image credit: https://www.pexels.com/photo/misty-train-tracks-in-dhaka-bangladesh-30406595/

Eph:1:4-14 For He chose us in Him. Chosen. John:15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you. * God the Father chose us * In Jesus Christ He chose us * Before the creation of the world He chose us * For what did He choose us? To be holy and blameless in His sight. Considering the fact that I am wretched. But still He chose me. Considering the fact that nothing good lives in me. But still He chose me. Considering the fact that I am unloveable, but still God chose me.  That in itself is a miracle. Chosen for a holy and blameless living. Chosen to live a life opposite to what I've been living. Though He knew I would still fail His calling and betray Him, still He chose me. I did not choose Him out of my desperation. But He chose me out of love. That makes the choice stronger. Because love is stronger than helpless desperation. Because once you feel equipped and you are out of your desperation and you feel proud of your calling, you would have lost the grip already. But the...