do i have a purpose?

©2020 dan bulkley | ask@lifechurchco.com

do i have a purpose?

God has a purpose for you. You should never doubt that the Lord is working all things to His good end romans 8:28 , this includes you ephesians 1:11-13 and everyone around you proverbs 17:7 . God has a purpose for everything and everyone. His desire is to use every person for noble ends ii peter 3:9 ezekiel 18:32 , but He has given us a choice, not whether we serve or not, but how we will serve joshua 24:15 . Tragically, we sinful humans reject His good purpose luke 7:30 in our own willfulness. God though is not thwarted in His glorious purposes job 42:2 and still uses even the wicked in their ignoble actions to serve His glorious purposes proverbs 16:4 that are from Him, through Him and to Him romans 11:36. So if we want to be used in noble ways we must choose to be used in that way decision by decision as we seek to fulfill His purpose in our lives psalm 40:5-10 at the very time of His purpose…NOW acts 17:26-28 ii corinthians 6:2 …in every circumstance colossians 3:23-24 , so that we will be useful to Him for good works ii timothy 2:20-21 .

supporting scriptures

romans 8:28

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

ephesians 1:11-13

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,

proverbs 17:7

Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince.

ii peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

ezekiel 18:32

For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”

joshua 24:15

And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

luke 7:30

but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.

job 42:2

“I know that you can do all things,

and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

proverbs 16:4

The Lord has made everything for its purpose,

even the wicked for the day of trouble.

romans 11:36

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen

psalm 40:5-10

You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.

6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.

7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me:

8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”

9 I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord.

10 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.

acts 17:26-28

And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us

ii corinthians 6:2

For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you,

and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”

colossians 3:23-24

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ

ii timothy 2:20-21

Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

As God uses us in other’s lives and others in our lives to encourage ephesians 6:22 or discipline ii samuel 7:14 we must not think we know the particular means of how God will accomplish His purpose for each other, in each other and through each other john 21:22 . Rather we should keep our focus on our own life’s purposes is to bless other’s with Christ philippians 1:20-27 and keep in mind that God uses others, no matter what, to bless His children with Himself romans 8:28-39 and reveal His glory romans 9:17 . So do not seek great things for your name jeremiah 45:5 as we should be seeking Christ to be lifted high john 3:30 12:32 even by our mundane i corinthians 10:31-11:1 , respectable lives i thessalonians 4:11-12 .

supporting scriptures

ephesians 6:22

I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.

ii samuel 7:14

I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men

john 21:22

Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”

philippians 1:20-27

as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel

my notes:

romans 8:28-39

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

romans 9:17

For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

jeremiah 45:5

And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the Lord. But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go.”

john 3:30

He must increase, but I must decrease.”

john 12:32

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

i corinthians 10:31-11:1

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

i thessalonians 4:11-12

and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

Much of the very specifics of God’s purposes in the innumerable happenings of creation are a mystery to us as not all of it has been revealed to us job 9:10-11 deuteronomy 29:4 , but that which is revealed is for our benefit to guide us in His purposes for us and the blessings of them deuteronomy 29:29 . If you try to figure out all the particulars of God’s purposes before you seek to fulfill His revealed purpose for you, you will only be confused and frustrated romans 11:33 , but as He reveals and will reveal the point jeremiah 23:20 i corinthians 13:9-13 we should respond in harmony and cooperation with Him romans 14:17 . He meets our own specific heart’s needs and others as well in all daily circumstances i kings 8:37-40 58-60 to make us more like Him so that we all may have unity, love, fellowship and joy with and in Him and each other romans 8:28-29 john 17:21 . This is why we should give thanks in all circumstances, for this is His purpose for us i thessalonians 5:16-18 .

supporting scriptures

job 9:10-11

who does great things beyond searching out,

and marvelous things beyond number.

11 Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not;

he moves on, but I do not perceive him.

deuteronomy 29:4

But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear.

deuteronomy 29:29

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

romans 11:33

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

jeremiah 23:20

The anger of the Lord will not turn back

until he has executed and accomplished

the intents of his heart.

In the latter days you will understand it clearly.

my notes:

i corinthians 13:9-13

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

romans 14:17

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

i kings 8:37-40

“If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence or blight or mildew or locust or caterpillar, if their enemy besieges them in the land at their gates, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, 38 whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart and stretching out his hands toward this house, 39 then hear in heaven your dwelling place and forgive and act and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways (for you, you only, know the hearts of all the children of mankind), 40 that they may fear you all the days that they live in the land that you gave to our fathers.

i kings 8:58-60

that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his rules, which he commanded our fathers. 59 Let these words of mine, with which I have pleaded before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, and may he maintain the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel, as each day requires, 60 that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other.

romans 8:28-29

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

john 17:21

that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me

i thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

You were called; you were given the honor philippians 1:29 ; you were purposed to suffer so that God’s glory would be revealed to others that they too might have the chance to inherit the blessed relationship with the Lord i peter 2:19-23 ii timothy 1:8-9 . Your troubles and weaknesses are truly purposed to display His glory to others ii corinthians 4:5-12 and so that we also would clearly recognize Him as the ever present strength of our lives ii corinthians 12:7-10 . So whatever difficulty, suffering, disappointment, weakness, etc. that you experience know the purpose is God drawing you ever closer to Himself job 36:15-16 and revealing Himself to others through you i corinthians 1:27-31 . This is why our suffering occurs so that we will purposely seek His ways i peter 4:1-2 so that His blessed purpose for us might be accomplished for us and through us i peter 3:8-12 .

supporting scriptures

philippians 1:29

For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake

i peter 2:19-23

For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

ii timothy 1:8-9

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began

ii corinthians 4:5-12

For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

ii corinthians 12:7-10

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

job 36:15-16

He delivers the afflicted by their affliction

and opens their ear by adversity.

16 He also allured you out of distress

into a broad place where there was no cramping,

and what was set on your table was full of fatness.

i corinthians 1:27-31

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

i peter 4:1-2

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

i peter 3:8-12

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For

“Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;

11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Where there is life there is hope ecclesiastes 9:4 for where there is life you know God has a purpose for that life to still remain acts 13:36 because He is the intentional Giver of Life job 34:14 acts 17:28 . Your own life here will end when God’s purpose of your life is over. So, take heart; God still has a purpose for you here philippians 1:22 25-26 .

supporting scriptures

ecclesiastes 9:4

But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

acts 13:36

For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption

job 34:14

If he should set his heart to it

and gather to himself his spirit and his breath,

acts 17:28

for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’;

as even some of your own poets have said,

“‘For we are indeed his offspring.’

philippians 1:22

If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.

philippians 1:25-26

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

What is my purpose? To sum up all the purposes, you exist to bring about the praise of His glory to the Lord ephesians 1:11-12 by being the very instrument of His glory ii corinthians 4:6-7 while you take your loving share in His glory romans 8:17 . We see that the Lord has given us many purposes, and though the workings out of them are mysterious ephesians 1:9 the Lord has made known many details through His commands deuteronomy 30:11-16 matthew 22:36-40 so that we may willfully john 7:17 ii corinthians 8:5 , joyfully and blessedly participate romans 12:2 ii peter 1:4 in what He is accomplishing in all i corinthians 15:28 .

supporting scriptures

ephesians 1:11-12

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.

ii corinthians 4:6-7

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

romans 8:17

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison

ephesians 1:9

making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ

deuteronomy 30:11-16

“For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 14 But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.

15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it

matthew 22:36-40

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

john 7:17

If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.

ii corinthians 8:5

and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us

romans 12:2

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

ii peter 1:4

by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire

i corinthians 15:28

When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

Here are some specific, revealed purposes God has made you for hebrews 12:20-21 :

supporting scriptures

hebrews 12:20-21

For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”

To inhabit the Earth isaiah 45:18

isaiah 45:18

For thus says the Lord,

who created the heavens

(he is God!),

who formed the earth and made it

(he established it;

he did not create it empty,

he formed it to be inhabited!):

“I am the Lord, and there is no other.

To lovingly build up the Earth genesis 1:26-28 ii corinthians 10:8

genesis 1:26-28

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

27 So God created man in his own image,

in the image of God he created him;

male and female he created them.

28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

ii corinthians 10:8

For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed

To silence the foolishness of sinful humanity i peter 2:15

i peter 2:15

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

To clearly display God’s wisdom to heavenly beings ephesians 3:10-11 i peter 1:11-12

ephesians 3:10-11

so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord

i peter 1:11-12

inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

To give cause for God’s praise from all matthew 5:16

matthew 5:16

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven

To have eternal, wondrous life ii corinthians 5:4-5

ii corinthians 5:4-5

For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

To be joyful always in the Lord i thessalonians 5:16 philippians 4:4

i thessalonians 5:16

Rejoice always

philippians 4:4

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

To build other’s faith philippians 1:25-26

philippians 1:25-26

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

my notes:

To bring others joy philippians 1:25-26

philippians 1:25-26

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

To communicate with God continuously i thessalonians 5:17

i thessalonians 5:17

pray without ceasing

To give thanks to God in all your particular circumstances i thessalonians 5:18

i thessalonians 5:18

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you

To seek God acts 17:26-27

acts 17:26-27

And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of u

To praise God psalm 139:14

psalm 139:14

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

To bring God pleasure ii corinthians 5:9

ii corinthians 5:9

So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

To have our Lord and know Him intimately philippians 3:8-14 hosea 6:3

philippians 3:8-14

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

hosea 6:3

Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord;

his going out is sure as the dawn;

he will come to us as the showers,

as the spring rains that water the earth.”

To love God matthew 22:36-37

matthew 22:36-37

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

To bring God glory ephesians 1:11-12

ephesians 1:11-12

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.

my notes: