It’s Day 5 of the #31dbc! All month long I will be talking about Hope and Healing. Any subject that addresses faith, hope, healing, joy, peace, promises in the Lord! Anything uplifting, that brings you encouragement and strength in your walk with God. Today we are talking about Promises.

In Ephesians the first chapter, Paul the apostle is addressing the church at Ephesus, but it applies to us today as well. It goes something like this:

“That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.” Ephesians 1:10-12.

I love what Paul is saying here…we have obtained an inheritance in Jesus Christ, and at the right time He will bring everything together under His authority-everything in heaven and on earth.

Verse twelve says that “…we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.” The Jews are the ones who first trusted in Christ. It was His purpose that they would be the ones to bring Him glory and honor.

But here is the good part! “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise…” Ephesians 1:13 NKJV.

Now Paul is talking about you and me! The Gentiles! Those that have been “grafted in”!

The NLT says it like this: “And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.”

Now, Paul says something that took me years to understand, or for it to really soak in. I was working in a real estate office when I finally grasped what this verse meant. I was about 21 years old and I became so excited!

“Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:14.

The NIV says the Holy Spirit is a “DEPOSIT, guaranteeing our inheritance, until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of His glory.”

I can understand that!

The Holy Ghost is earnest money!

He has given us a guarantee that He will come back for us to redeem us unto Himself! A down payment on His inheritance!

We are that inheritance friend! What hope!

Aren’t you thankful for the Comforter? If you have been baptized in His precious name and filled with the Holy Spirit, according to the scripture, then you have that hope of redemption.

Look up! That day is drawing near. The signs are all around us. “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28.

It is a promise!

I took this beautiful picture this week in Jurmala, Latvia in Eastern Europe. It is looking out at the Gulf of Riga, which is a part of the Baltic Sea. I thought it went so well with our thought today! It was so peaceful looking out at the handiwork of God and thinking of His promises! He is coming back for His inheritance!

Sharing with Still Saturday, Amaze Me Monday, Motivation Mondays, Wordless Wednesday