DAILY BREAD READING (Published Daily by Our Daily Bread Ministries)
NOVEMBER 4, 2026
READ: Ephesians 1 (Focus) 3-14
MEMORY VERSE
“God . . . has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3
BACKGROUND
While out walking the family dog, my nephew Andy was hit by a car. Someone saw the accident and stopped to give him CPR and call for an ambulance.
A ventilator kept him alive for a week. Miraculously, he was weaned off the sedation medicines and vent the day after Christmas and told his wife, parents, brother, and five children, “I love you.” Emotions and hope soared! But the very next day, he died.
All of his children, ages fifteen to twenty-one, spoke through their tears at his God-honoring memorial service. Daughter Julia read a quote that made those in attendance think: “It’s not about how much we lost. It’s about how much we have left.”
But the truth is, those of us who knew and loved him lost so much with Andy’s passing—a beautiful life lived for Jesus—and he’s greatly missed. What do we have left that gives us hope?
Ephesians 1 speaks of the spiritual blessings Andy and other believers have in Jesus: We’re “blameless in his sight” (v. 4), “predestined . . . for adoption to sonship” (v. 5), “[redeemed] through his blood” (v. 7), and “[forgiven] of sins [by] God’s grace” (v. 7).
“The promised Holy Spirit” lives in us and guarantees “our inheritance” with Him in the life to come (vv. 13-14).
Those who love Jesus have His gift of eternal salvation.
Anne Cetas
INSIGHT
To encourage believers in Jesus to live godly lives in an ungodly world (Ephesians 4:1, 17), Paul begins this letter by reminding us how much God loves us and in Christ has “blessed us with every spiritual blessing” (1:3).
Through Jesus, we’re chosen, redeemed, forgiven, saved, and adopted as His children into His family, destined to be His heirs. Distinctively marked and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we’re graciously cared for and given all that we need to live God-honoring lives as His children (vv. 3-14).
Whatever challenges or trials we may face, and whatever losses and pain we may suffer, our heavenly Father “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,” for “his power . . . is at work within us” (3:20).
K.T. Sim
APPLICATION
What have you lost? If you’re grieving, how much do you have left that you can thank God for?
PR’s (Pastor Richard) RE-EMPHASIS (From Today’s Post)
“Whatever challenges or trials we may face, and whatever losses and pain we may suffer, our heavenly Father “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,” for “his power . . . is at work within us””
K.T. Sim
PR’s TAKE
“…what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later…I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.
No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:18 & 38-39
PRAYER
“Father God, please comfort me and enable me to depend on Your promises.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“O GOD OUR HELP”
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home:
Under the shadow of Your throne
Your saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Your arm alone,
And our defense is sure.
Before the hills in order stood
Or Earth received her frame,
From everlasting you are God,
To endless years the same.
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be thou our guard while troubles last
And our eternal home.
