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"Always have something beautiful in sight, even if it's just a daisy in a jelly glass." 
H. Jackson Brown, Jr.






Saint Paul, in writing his letter to the Ephesians, writes to expand his readers horizons that they might better understand the dimensions of God's eternal purpose and grace, and come to appreciate the high goals God has for the church.  Paul opens his letter with a sequence of statements about God's blessings, which are interspersed with a remarkable variety 
of expressions drawing attention to God's wisdom, forethought, and purpose.  

 Paul emphasizes that through Christ we have been saved, not only for our personal benefit, but also to bring praise and glory to God.  (from my trusty NIV Study Bible Notes).

Life is lived out here on earth, where the practical daily life of the believer continues to work out the purposes of God. The ascended Lord gave "gifts" to the members of his church to enable them to minister to one another and so promote unity and maturity.   The unity of the church under the headship of Christ foreshadows the uniting "of all things in heaven and earth" under Christ. The new life of purity and mutual deference stands in contrast to the 
old way of life without Christ.  Those who are "strong in the Lord" have victory over the 
evil one in the great spiritual conflict, especially through the power of prayer.

A favourite verse for me is Ephesians chapter 2, verse 10, which carries forward the 
theme of God's sovereign purpose and planning and speaks about believers being 
God's "workmanship" and my trusty NIV notes remind me that the Greek word 
also has the connotation of "work of art."  Here is that verse for your contemplation.

 For we are God's work of art,
created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.

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