Reading With the People of God #15 Purposeಮಾದರಿ

Seasons of Purpose and Identity in Christ

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 reminds us that life unfolds in seasons—each with its own purpose and timing under God’s sovereign hand. Whether times of joy or sorrow, growth or waiting, these seasons shape our journey and invite us to trust God’s greater plan.

As we read Ecclesiastes alongside the opening chapter of Ephesians, we encounter a profound truth: while life’s seasons change, our identity and purpose in Christ remain secure and unchanging. In Ephesians 1, Paul unveils the spiritual blessings and calling that define us as God’s chosen and beloved children, anchored in His eternal purpose.

This dual reading sets the stage for our deeper exploration of Ephesians. Your upcoming introduction will help you understand the rich context and powerful message Paul brings, inviting you to live with confidence and purpose as part of God’s eternal family.

As you prepare to engage with this letter, reflect on how God’s steady purpose in Christ intersects with the changing seasons of your life.

An Introduction to the Book of Ephesians:

Ephesus was a major city on the coast of Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey. The city was devoted to the idol goddess Artemis, and its temple was considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The Apostle Paul lived there for almost three years in the mid-50s AD, wrote several letters to churches from Ephesus, and used Ephesus as a hub to reach out to the surrounding region with the gospel message.

Ephesians is different from other Pauline letters in that it doesn’t address any problems, theological errors, or heresies. In this letter, Paul explores the dimensions of God’s eternal purpose, which finds its expression in the church. The word “mystery” is used seven times, and he says we can now know the mystery of God’s will, uniting all things in heaven and on earth in Christ. All of history moved toward this goal “according to the eternal purpose that God has realized in Christ Jesus.” (3:10-11) The church, he contends, is evidence that the mystery is being revealed in that it is bringing all peoples together, tearing down the wall of hostility that once kept Jews and Gentiles apart.

The first chapter of Ephesians is classic in its theology, summarizing the foundation of the gospel message Paul had laid out in his teaching as he reflects on our salvation. He shows that it is the triune God who works together to bring His own to Him. God the Father chose His people before the foundation of the world; God the Son accomplished redemption for God’s people; God the Spirit applies that redemption to God’s people with the guarantee of their inheritance.

After theology always comes the application of our faith, the obligatory response to so great a salvation. Paul speaks of marriage and the family, spiritual gifts, and armor. He brings us to this admonition to walk worthy of the calling with this exhortation from Ephesians 5:1-2:

Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God...

* Introduction provided by Jinet Troost

Reflection Question:
How can trusting your identity in Christ shape the way you walk through the different seasons you’re facing?

Prayer of Illumination:
Lord, open my heart and mind as I read your Word today. Help me to trust your timing and purpose in every season. Teach me to find my true identity and purpose rooted in Christ alone. By your Spirit, guide me to live with faithfulness and hope. Amen.