To The Praise of His Glory...

 

Ephesians 1:11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

As Paul introduced this letter he jumped right in, mentioning all the spiritual blessings we have in Christ: choosing us, adopting us, redeeming us, forgiving us, pouring out on us His grace. He then tells us above that originally God showed all these things to the apostles, then, through them to this body of believers, so that they might be "to the praise of His glory." Paul wants us to know from the offset that it is all from Him and to Him.  He then goes on to remind us that this calling also includes all that we need to live it out: wisdom, knowledge, hope, power, and authority.  We have these things as an inheritance that we can tap into right now, and also know that there will be plenty left for the age to come.  May we live "to the praise of His glory."