Reclaiming the Truth
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” – Ephesians 1.7
Redeeming the Time
One way the Israelites were reminded of God’s Great Love Story was through special meals that were full of symbolic food, prayers, story and song.
During the Passover feast, Jews often sing the “Dayenu.” Dayenu is a Hebrew word that means, “It would have been enough.”
They would sing a line and then respond, “It would have been enough.” There are 15 lines of the song. Each line highlights a gift of God. And after each line is sung, everyone at the table would respond, “It would have been enough.” As if to say, if nothing else, if God hadn’t done anything else, the very first act would have been enough.
Five Stanzas of Leaving Slavery
1) If He had brought us out of Egypt.
“It would have been enough.”
2) If He had executed justice upon the Egyptians.
“It would have been enough.”
3) If He had executed justice upon their gods.
“It would have been enough.”
4) If He had slain their first-born.
“It would have been enough.”
5) If He had given to us their health and wealth.
“It would have been enough.”
Five Stanzas of Miracles
6) If He had split the sea for us.
“It would have been enough.”
7) If He had led us through on dry land.
“It would have been enough.”
8) If He had drowned our oppressors.
“It would have been enough.”
9) If He had provided for our needs in the wilderness for 40 years.
“It would have been enough.”
10) If He had fed us manna.
“It would have been enough.”
Five Stanzas of Being with God
11) If He had given us Shabbat.
“It would have been enough.”
12) If He had led us to Mount Sinai.
“It would have been enough.”
13) If He had given us the Torah.
“It would have been enough.”
14) If He had brought us into the Land of Israel.
“It would have been enough.”
15) If He built the Temple for us.
“It would have been enough.”
Reflection
- What is enough for you?
- What if things don’t go back to normal?
- What if you don’t get back to school?
- What if wages continue to be cut and you can’t provide like you want to or at all?
- What if you get sick?
- What is enough for you? When everything is stripped away and you are left with your questions, what one answer is enough? Is redemption enough?
Resting in His Redemption
The verse we began this devotion with today is found in the middle of some indescribably beautiful truths in Ephesians 1. We’ll read those truths here believing even one would be enough. Then, we’ll personalize these truths by writing your name in the blanks. Rest and receive His redemption today.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. 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.
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you 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—to the praise of his glory.”
Ephesians 1.3-14 (personalized)
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed __________in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
For He chose __________ in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.
In love, He predestined __________for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will— to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given __________in the One He loves.
In Him, __________ has redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on __________.
With all wisdom and understanding, He made known to __________ 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.
In Him ,__________ is chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory.
And __________ was also included in Christ when she heard the message of truth, the gospel of her salvation. When __________ believed, she was marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing __________ inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of His glory.
