God's stamp of Approval on being Different

Graphic from Gwain

I'm especially fond of the way The Amplified Bible states Ephesians 4:7:

Yet grace [God’s undeserved favor] was given to each one of us [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ’s [rich and abundant] gift.

I think that part of why this delights me so is because it's saying that it's God's goodness to us that He made us different.  Throughout this fourth chapter of Ephesians Paul's been stressing the need for unity in the Body of Christ; but he's not saying that unity equals uniformity.  This helps me feel a great sense of relief because, if the truth be known, I'm a bit...hummm...perhaps one could say eccentric.  When my 3 sons were coming into their teens they all went through their version of noticing how our family was different in the way we operated and did things than most others; that I was kind of a different type of person.  I'm grateful to be reassured that that's not only OK with God; he wants me to be who I am - this is who he made me. 

Thank You Father that You don't expect me to be some kind of super Christian wonder woman type.  That You made me exactly who I am.  Father, help me follow You and sense Your leading, help me move in instant obedience.  May I get to minister to others in a larger capacity than ever before in the coming year. By larger You know Father that I don't mean more noticed; just getting to maybe reach more people or some people more deeply.  Father help me love on people, encourage people, and have opportunities to teach or facilitate in the coming year.  Thank You that You care about me and made me who I am.

Starting to Unpack

Picture from Rick and Linda Reed

Today I read Ephesians 4:7-16.  My mind is bouncing all over the place - it's a rather wild Scripture!
On first read through these are the things that caught my attention and it may take a few forays into these verses to unpack them:

• In NIV Verse 7 speaks about "grace has been given as Christ apportioned it". Amplified says that grace was given to each of us "indiscriminately, but in different ways".  NKJ puts it this way: "to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift".  Apparently this isn't talking about the grace of salvation, yet, it is a grace that every Believer is given and in different "measures" or ways.  Sounds to me like God treats each of us differently; has different plans for each of us.  Isn't that interesting?!
• Verses 8 & 9 are real mind blowers. As is often the case, Paul is quoting out of the Old Testament.  This time it's from Psalm 68:18. When I read that specific verse in context it talks about God's sanctuary and Him going "on high" -I'm assuming this is heaven, but it could be speaking of His sanctuary on earth.  The one on earth could mean during the millennial Kingdom; sometimes in Scripture you'll see this has happened, is happening, and will happen in the future, all at once kind of reference. Add to that the fact that it's using this Psalms reference in Ephesians and saying that "He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to man" (NKJ).  What does that even mean?  Who are the captives that he ascended on high to take captive and how does this relate to gifts He's giving to man?  Then, this Old Testament reference is connected to the idea of Him ascended but also descended.  It would seen that the ascended would mean to Heaven but I'm unclear if the descended part means coming to earth or somewhere else; Hell maybe? NIV puts it: "descended to the lower regions", NKJ says: "first descended into the lower parts of earth",  NET comes out and says "he also descended into the lower regions, namely, the earth".  There's the fact that Paul is juxtaposing that Jesus ascended on high with the fact that He was in the lower regions - why is that significant?  What's he saying?
• In verse 10 I see this proclamation that Jesus did the ascending and descending so that He might, as Amplified puts it, "that He [His presence] might fill all things [that is, the whole universe]". What does it mean that His presence fills all things?  What is the impact and practical implications of that? How, or does, His sacrificial death on the cross relate to this? What does this all mean to me, today?
• Verse 7 lays the groundwork for verses 11 & 12 which refer pack to this concept of God "apportioning" something to His followers. In these verses I read that He gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.  Does this mean that every follower of Christ is one of these?  Do all other ways of relating and building up Christ's Church relate to one of these?  I've heard so much said about this but I want to dig into this with fresh new eyes and hear from God.
• In verse 13 I see the reason for the giving of these gifts - unity and knowledge of Christ in the body and working with Christ's followers until they are mature, "attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" (NIV).  What does the "whole measure" mean verses the partial measure?  What's the "fullness of Christ"?  What do these things look like?Verse 14 sheds some light on what it means to have fullness, when we have it we aren't infants any more.  Infants are described as those who are easily persuaded by people who are not teaching God's truth.  There's the implication that there are people with untrue teaching that are trying to lead people astray.  The verse speaks of infants who are "tossed back and forth" (NIV) by these false teachings. This theme of false teaching is one that is seen repeatedly in the Epistles, so I assume it's a point God really wants me to get.
• Verse 15 contrasts the immature follower with the mature one.  Again I see this description about the mature one being "like Christ in everything"(The Message). Verse 15 also describes the mature one as someone who speaks" the truth in love" (NIV).  What does speaking the truth in love look like?  Social media is a whole world of alleged truth speakers, but what about the love?  Can we have a good cause or belief but mess it all up by not having the love?  I find myself thinking about 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 where it talks about great things we can do-speak in heavenly languages, have incredible faith that makes things happen, give to the poor, endure great physical hardship-and says they are worthless without love.  What does this say about the value of love - is love truly greater than everything else?  Is love the foundation? What is this love?
• Verse 16 brings out these gifts again and indicates that they are for building up the body of Christ, His followers. The Message puts this verse this way: "We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love." What does Christ being the source of everything I do look like?  How does His blood flow through me - what does that mean? This verse puts such an emphasis on the connectedness of Christ's followers.Do I have a deep level of connectedness with other Believers?  How can I achieve that?

I have off work for the next 4 days, thanks to a weekend followed by a Monday and then a Tuesday Holiday I'm able to use 1 vacation day on Monday and get 4 days off in a row. So I'm looking forward to taking some time each day to take a bullet point at a time and go over that.  Today I'm going to need to stop but I just want to take a moment and thank God.

Oh Father, I thank You that You've given me Your written Word.  Thank You that You, the great and awesome God, would ever want to speak to me. Thank You for being so interesting.  Thank You that Your Word is alive and valuable and that Your Holy Spirit speaks to me through it.  Thank You that You stimulate my mind to question and seek and come into more of Your truth.  Oh Holy Spirit, be my teacher.  As I look into what others say and let their thoughts stimulate my own, please help me to always see what You want me to see.  As I leave this time with You right now, I have so much more to get out of these verses, but Holy Spirit please empower me to love.  I'm at home today and I think I'll just be hanging out with John.  Help me be a loving wife and friend to him today.  It doesn't do me any good to look into Your Word if I'm a complainer or difficult person when I walk away.  May the words I speak today be ones of gratefulness, encouragement, and truth.  Thank You God for Your love.

Living a life worthy of His calling

Graphic from A Life Worthy

When reading Ephesians 4:1-6 today, verse 1 starts out calling me to live a life worthy of my calling. I know I'm not worthy, that's why I need Jesus. The way the Amplified Bible said some of verse 1, helped me understand this better:

live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation

That part about a life that expresses gratitude to God for my salvation, that grabbed me.  I appreciate John Piper's comments on this, Piper makes the point:

"This does not mean that we should try to deserve our place in God's favor. It means that we should recognize how much our place in God's favor deserves from us. The focus is not on our worth but on the worth of our calling"

Piper goes on to compare it to a judge that had been found guilty of some shameful crimes and how this judge was looked at as behaving unworthy of his office.  The first 3 chapters of Ephesians have just told me about the gifts, status and place God's given me/all His followers:

• Blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesiasn 1:3)
• Chose us to be holy and blameless before Him (Ephesians 1:4, 7)
• Adopted us as His children (Ephesians 1:5)
• Lavished His grace upon us (Ephesians 1:8)
• Let us know the mystery of His will for bringing all things to unity in Christ when time reaches its fulfillment (Ephesians 1: 9-10)
• Chosen as part of the church, those who first put their hope in Christ, to be to the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:12)
• Given the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of our relationship with Him (Ephesian 1:13-14, 2:22)
• Given us the Holy Spirit as a source of stent and power (Ephesians 3:16-18)
• Given us great power (Ephesians 1:18-21)
• Forgiveness for sins (Ephesians 2:1-5)
• Seated with Christ in the heavenly realms to show through the ages His great grace to us (Ephesians 2:6-10)
• Brought us near to Christ (Ephesians 2:13)
• Loved us with an unending love (Ephesians 3:17-19)
  

 Now in Chapter 4 he's saying to live a life worthy of this great calling He's been telling me about.  I'm thinking about what this means, in practical/daily terms for me:

• I don't need to feel overwhelmed by how challenging my job is - I have been given His strength so I can go about things with a quiet confidence instead of hesitancy
• It doesn't matter if people like me or not at the new job - I'm loved by God and He has me there
• When I mess up I can be as honest about it as is permissible, ask God's forgiveness (and anyone else if needed) and move on
• As a grace recipient I can be a grace giver to John and not hold his faults/mistakes/wrong doing against him
• I have so much to be grateful for, and happy about, I can live my life with joy and give a smile to those I encounter

Oh Father thank you for all You've give me! I can never say thank You enough!! Holy Spirit make me aware as I go through my day of ways I can live a life worthy of what You've called me to.  I look to You Lord 'cuz I know that I can only live a worthy life through Your power in me.

His Power working in Us

Graphic from Edge Church Colorado

As I'm finishing off this 3rd chapter in Ephesians, I've come to the last 2 verses. Ephesians 3:20-21 (NKJV):

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,  to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

What an awesome passage!  God can do good for us beyond what we can imagine by His Spirit working in us!

Peterson, in his The Message paraphrase, adds this additional insight to the part about "according to the power that works within us" in the 2nd half of the 20th verse:

 He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.


This part stands out to me today because I'm thinking that God always wants to do good for me, but sometimes I get in the way. His power has to work in me so that I am able to experience Him doing more than I can think of or ask. I need to be changed.

This doesn't come as a huge shock since I'm acutely aware of the fact that myself and everyone else is broken.

Oh Father work in me.  May I remain open to You and doing what You want and in Your way throughout this day. Help me keep Your attitude and not get critical or cynical.  Help me be Your woman at my job, with John, when I'm driving - just in everything today.  Show me where I need to change and then please empower me to change.  Thank You for loving me.  Thank You for having good plans for me.  Thank You for all the hope You bring.  I love You.

More on accessing God's strength

Graphic from Saved Sister

I'm still struggling and tired. Still thinking about what I studied the last time.  Specifically Piper's A.P.T.A.T. The question that comes to my mind is what promises from the Word do I need to be speaking aloud and trusting about?

So this morning I want to spend some time coming up with verses.  Mostly, it is my job that has me exhausted. I'm going to list what about my job has me exhausted so I can find verses that apply to these issues. Oh Father, please guide me through this process so that I can learn how to do what I hear people call "standing on your Word".  Lord, please help me be able to do what Paul wrote to Timothy about and rightly handle your Word.

Here's my list of work issues:

• Finding shift coverage
• Frequent onslaught of numerous, coming at you,competing issues that I need to address
• Due to B, I strain to remain focused and get everything done
• Due to B, it would be easy to miss what is truly important and thereby mess up 
• Navigating potentially company problem issues and minimizing the risk
• Presenting ourselves to licensing auditors as the good people we are and making sure that they see that
• The need to establish positive, productive, relationships with difficult people
• Extensive paperwork that is extremely detail oriented and must be well thought out
• Being effective at coming up with ways to train and mentor leaders and make a difference

Now, how do I apply the Word to these?

I feel like what I need to do is:
1. Come up with some verses
2. Work out my thought process behind those verses.
3. Come up with truth statements for these verses.
Then I can read (and eventually have memorized) aloud those verses and some truth statements that correspond to those verses. I can do this throughout the day.  This way I don't have to become drained and tired and overwhelmed.

It's so much, I just can't do it on my own. I am not smart enough.  In life and work there is always so much going on that I just only see a fraction of.  Yet my actions need to be in line with the entire situation (even that part I don't know). What I need is God's  direction, God's ability, and God's favor.


God's Direction
1. Verses
Proverbs 3:5-6 (MSG)
Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
    don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
    he’s the one who will keep you on track.


Psalm 23:1-3 (NIV)
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
    He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
    he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.

Proverbs 16:9 (NKJV)
A man’s heart plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.

Psalm 32:5-10 (NIV)
Then I acknowledged my sin to you
    and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
    my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
    the guilt of my sin.

 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
    while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
    will not reach them. 

 You are my hiding place;
    you will protect me from trouble
    and surround me with songs of deliverance.

 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Do not be like the horse or the mule,
    which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
    or they will not come to you. 

 Many are the woes of the wicked,
    but the Lord’s unfailing love
    surrounds the one who trusts in him.

Psalm 119:104-105 (NIV)
I gain understanding from your precepts;
    therefore I hate every wrong path.

 Your word is a lamp for my feet,
    a light on my path.

2. Thought process regarding these verses
God promises that He will lead me.  If I stay in His word and seek to follow His ways, I will reap the benefits of His wisdom provided in His Word.  If I mess up and go off His path, I can acknowledge my sin & repent and He'll forgive me (1 John 1:9, Psalm 32:5). I don't have to get all stressed and exhausted, I have his counsel and leading available to me.  I'm not all on my own in this trying to figure out what to do.  He promises to direct me.

3. Truth statements based on these verses

• No situation is too much for me. 
• I can count on God's guidance and direction. 
• I am not alone in this, He is with me and will lead me. 
• As I obey God's Word and follow His direction, I will reap the benefits. 
• When I mess up and fail to follow God's Word, I can acknowledge my sin and choose to turn away from it.  God will forgive me and His blessings will become mine again.

God's Ability

1. Verses
Deuteronomy 8; especially verse 18 (NIV)
But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

Philippians 4:10-13; especially verse 13 (NKJV)
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:15-19; especially verse 19 (NIV)
God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NET)
 My point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.  Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work. 

Matthew 7:7-12; especially verse 7 (NIV)
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 

2. Thought process regarding these verses
My job, and sometimes life, is just too much for me.  I am not smart enough, do not have enough ability.  I need God's ability  The Word says that I need to ask and He will give me what I need. He puts me in my life and job and wants me to be successful. There is also a theme regarding me needing to give and then I will receive back as I give.

3. Truth statements based on these verses 

• God gives me the ability to do what I  need to do. 
• I can count on God's strength and ability. 
• I have everything I need to do that which is before me to do.
•  Whatever I have need of, God will supply.  
• As I give and help others, God will help me.    

God's Favor
1. Verses
Genesis 39; especially verse 21 (NIV)
 the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.

Proverbs 3:1-4 (NET)
My child, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments, 
 for they will provide a long and full life,
and they will add well-being to you.
Do not let truth and mercy leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will find favor and good understanding,
in the sight of God and people.

Psalm 23; especially verse 6 (NET)
Surely your goodness and faithfulness will pursue me all my days,
and I will live in the Lord’s house for the rest of my life.

Psalm 90; especially verse 17 (NET)
May our sovereign God extend his favor to us!
Make our endeavors successful!
Yes, make them successful! 

Psalm 5; especially verse 12 (NET)
Certainly you reward the godly, Lord.
Like a shield you protect them in your good favor. 

2. Thought process regarding these verses
When God puts His favor on someone, they will be successful no matter what happens to them.  Joseph is a perfect example of this.  Following God's Word and commandments will give us favor with Him and the people around us. God will have his goodness and mercy follow me.  He will protect me with His favor.

3. Truth statements

• God's favor is on me. 
• As I seek to obey God I will act wisely and win the favor of those around me. 
• Goodness and mercy are following me where ever I go. 
• God's favor protects me.   
• People see the best in me due to God's favor. 

Oh Father, thank You for Your Word.  Please empower me to be obedient to You and Your Word.  Enable me to be a true help to others.  Enlarge within me a giver's heart. Help me rest daily in the direction, ability,  and favor that You give me.

Glorious inner strength

Photo from Psychology Today

I was delighted when I realized this next passage: Ephesians 3:14-19. This has long been one of my favorite prayers; one that I've specifically prayed over my oldest son Devon for years. Today I pray that God would show me what He wants for me today in this portion of His Word.

I'm especially partial to the way this reads in The Message paraphrase:

My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.


Today I'm extra drawn to the words about glorious inner strength because I'm tired. About a month ago I went back to work for a company that I've worked for before. This time around the company has huge staffing problems. I'm called constantly and am in the position of constantly finding coverage, sometimes ending up coming in myself and working. I'm on salary so I'm not paid any more for coming in, and I still have all the regular work load expectations. As long as I'm at this job, I want to do a good job and glorify the Lord by my work performance. As of yet, no other work doors have opened up for me; so I take that as an indication that God must want me where I am at for now. I'm exhausted and struggling with discouragement. Today I fully recognize how much I need His strength.

I appreciate Jon Bloom's thoughts on these verses:

"This was not only Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians; it’s God’s desire for us today. He wants us to have more strength, enlarged capacities, to know Christ’s love and enjoy more of his fullness. Because more of God’s fullness means greater love for him. And greater love for him means more delight in him. And the greater our delight in him, the easier his yoke and the less burdensome his commandments become (Matthew 11:30; 1 John 5:3), for God has enlarged our heart (Psalm 119:32).

This concept of enlarging our capacity is what draws me here.  God is is the One of supreme strength (Isaiah 40:12-31, Jeremiah 32:17-22, Acts 17:26-27, Psalm 136:11-12).  He has given me His Holy Spirit who lives within me.  The Holy Spirit within me can be a source of strength. Richard Patterson discourses about Believers living their lives dependent on God's power:

"in his epistle to the Philippians Paul declares that it is not in his power that he lives out his life and ministry, but solely in the Lord’s strength: “I have experienced times of need and times of abundance. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of contentment, whether I go satisfied or hungry, have plenty or nothing. I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:12-13). As Comfort points out, “This powerful presence enabled Paul to go through bad times and good. Paul no longer relied on his own strength but on the strength of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, who lived in him and worked through him (see Gal 2:20; Col 1:27; cf. 2 Cor 1:8-10; 4:7-12).” 

Today I'm thinking about how do I access or experience God's strength?  I sure need it!  I feel exhausted so much of the time. John Piper had some practical thoughts on the answer to this question. He wrote about using the following sequence: A.P.T.A.T.

A. Admit - Admit we can't do anything on our own
P. Pray- Ask God for help
T. Trust-trust God that He will help. Piper talks a lot about memorizing scriptures about God's provision and choosing to believe they are true. I appreciate these points of Piper's regarding "Trusting":
             "When Peter says, “Whoever serves, [let him serve] as one who serves by the strength that God supplies” (1 Peter 4:11), we do this not only by praying for that supply, but by trusting in the promise of the supply in specific situations. Paul says that God supplies the Spirit to you “by hearing with faith” (Galatians 3:5). That is, we hear a promise and we believe it for a particular need, and the Holy Spirit comes to help us through that believed promise."
A. Act-Go to work with a good will and a high heart, expecting to be helped as you asked to be.
T. Thank-Thank God for His help, provision and blessings in your life

Oh Father, help me follow this sequence in my life.  Help me stay in Your word and know and count on Your promises.  Help me hold steadfast and rely on You throughout the challenges of my life.  Empower me to live a life filled with words of thanksgiving and a grateful attitude.  Please, strengthen me with Your strength.

The gospel is for everyone

Photo from The Gospel for Believers

What strikes me today as I read Ephesians 3:1-13 is that the gospel is for everybody.  In this passage Paul spends a lot of time alluding to the fact that God created the Jewish nation to be His people, but Jesus came to save everybody.  Those who are the knowledgeable, "churched", people and those who aren't.

This has become real for me in a new way since I started volunteering with Prison Fellowship Ministry (PFM).  In one sense, prisoners are bad people.  They are people who have done bad things, they have victimized other people.  It is much easier on one level to be sympathetic toward the victims than the victimizer.  I've long said that I'd rather be a prosecuting attorney than a defense attorney because the district attorney's office stands up for the people, the victims of crime.

Along with 2 other ladies I currently teach a class on job seeking and keeping as part of PFM's academy. We teach in a medium level prison called CRC.  Our class is comprised of young men who are part of CRC's youth offender program.  CRC has pulled inmates ages 18-25 away from the rest of the population for part of their prison time.  They are housed together and have optional classes together.  Just a couple of weeks ago during class we were discussing that the largest percentage of jobs are obtained through knowing someone.  One of the young men in the class related a story about how he was once working a temp job with 2 others.  He said that he outworked the 2 others by far, but that the 2 other people ended up being offered permanent work for that company while his job ended.  He explained that the other 2 had family members or friends who worked there.  He said that he got really angry about it and thought to himself that he should go rob all of those people.  I remember being shocked when he said that.  I thought to myself - who thinks something like that when they're upset?

Yet, somehow, when I'm there with those young men, I am filled with a sense of how precious they are.  I think it's the Holy Spirit within me; because these young men are precious to God.  The gospel truly is for everyone because God loves everyone.  He doesn't look at people the way that we do.

During these weeks that we've had class together I've come to know some of the young men and their stories.  My heart breaks as they casually mention things about their childhoods that were terrible. Moms who were drug addicts, chaotic households, dads in and out of prison, generations of gang affiliation...these are standard fare among the incarcerated.  God sees their pain and wants something better for these young men; my prayer is that I am a part of bringing that about.

I want to get in line with God's ways of looking at and loving people.  So what does that mean for me in my everyday life?  Are there people with whom I come in contact that I've written off?  Who I find offensive and/or annoying?  The gospel is for them too!  How can really believing this change the way I interact with and talk about these people?

Oh Father, thank You for Your love.  Thank You for extending your salvation to me and everyone else.  Show me ways each day to love the people around me.  Please help me be open to hearing Your voice when I'm around people who I don't like and who annoy me.  Empower me to change my attitude.  May I love people like You do.

Being part of His church

Graphic from Literature and Liturgy

Today I'm focusing on Ephesians 2:19-22.


God's building something.

It started with the prophets who were the foundation. Jesus is the chief cornerstone. God is joining His followers, the Church, together with Jesus to build a temple to His glory.

The church is comprised of all who believe in Christ; it is a visible entity that symbolizes the invisible grace that makes it possible.  I believe that the church has a special place in God's work on this earth.

God has always planned to reconcile men to Himself; this can be seen throughout the Scriptures:

Genesis 3:15 - Genesis 3:1-20 recounts the fall of man and the fact that God provided a way back to Himself.

There are pictures of God's redemption throughout the Old Testament; here's just a few of them:

Genesis 22 - God required Abraham to sacrifice his son Issac and at the last minute provided a substitute for that sacrifice.
Exodus 2-14 - Moses leads Israel out of captivity in Egypt.  Psalm 106:6-12 summarizes how God redeemed Israel through Moses leading their exit from Egypt. 
Ruth 1-4 - Boaz is the kinsman redeemer who purchased the ability to care for Ruth and her mother in law and bring Ruth into the family of Israel who were God's chosen people.
Isaiah 49:8-10 & Isaiah 61:1-3-the promise of restoration and deliverance

John 12:20-35 - Jesus died for everyone and if he is lifted up He will draw all to Himself

Romans 5:12-19 - Death came through Adam and salvation for all came through Christ

Philippians 2:5-11 - Eventually all will come to God through the Lordship of Jesus

2 Peter 3:8-9-God waits for all to come to Himself.

1 Timothy 4:6-10 - God is the savior of all people

So everyone will eventually come to God through Jesus, but the church are those who form the mystical body of Christ who have come to Him while on this earth. It would seem that God has a special place, a special work for those of His Church. The Church is supposed to bring glory to God on this earth, preach His kingdom and make disciples, and help one another grow in relationship with God through Christ. Scriptures such as Romans 15:1-6 & 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 show me that the Church exists to bring glory to God.  In Matthew 28:18-20 & Acts 1:8 we're shown that the Church is to bring preach the Jesus story and make disciples. 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11, Ephesians 4:11-16, and Ephesians 3:10-25 show the Church is to help Believers in Christ to encourage one another and grow in their relationship with Him.

I believe that if I don't accept God's gift of salvation now, at the end of this life I'll be separated from Him in hell. That Hell is still redemptive in nature; a time of refining fire that I might repent and come to Him. Choosing Him now not only saves me from hell later, it allows me to experience relationship with the Creator of my soul. As part of His Church I am called to bring Him glory, help bring His kingdom to others, and help build up others of faith.

So what does this mean to me now? What are the questions that come to my mind?

• Does the way I live bring glory to God?
• What am I doing to help others come into His kingdom?
• Am I encouraging and helping others in the faith grow in Him?

Oh Father, thank You that You let me into Your kingdom. Thank You for letting me be part of Your work.   Would you please empower me to live so that my life brings You glory.  Help me stay positive at my job and keep a servant's heart so  that You would be honored.  Help me be smart and fix problems at work and make things better so that You can get the glory.  Be with me at Prison ministry so that You would speak through me and be a source of encouragement, truth, help and an example for those young men.  Oh Father, show me daily if there's something specific that You want me to do and help me be sensitive to Your leading.  Sometimes I feel exhausted and like I don't have the energy that I need for it all.  Please give me wisdom and self discipline to eat, exercise, and live in ways that keep me healthy for my life and all I need to do.  Please empower and energize me by Your Holy Spirit within me to be up for the life/ministry before me.  May I be a source of wisdom, encouragement, and love to Daniel as we talk each week.  May I be a good helper to John and a source of love, encouragement and affirmation.  Even though we don't talk much, show me ways to be a positive source for Your kingdom in Devon, Rachel, Dylan, Liz and my grandchildren's lives.  Thank You that I can always come to You Lord.

The Law established in the Spirit

Graphis from New Hope Ohau

Today I'm looking at Ephesians 2:14-22, and there's a ton of stuff there!

But what jumped out at me today was this phrase in the first part of the 15th verse, I looked at it in several versions and found that I especially appreciated these:

"by setting aside in his flesh the law and its commands and regulations" (NIV)

"He repealed the law code that had become so clogged with fine print and footnotes that it hindered more than it helped":(MSG)

"abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the enmity [caused by] the Law with its decrees and ordinances [which He annulled] (AMP)

I appreciate these thoughts of Joseph Evel found in his book The Biblical Illustrator about this verse:

"The word rendered “to abolish” is the word often used by St. Paul for “to supersede by something better than itself”--translated “to make void,” in Romans 3:31; to “bring to nought,” in 1 Corinthians 1:28, and (in the passive) “to fail, to vanish away,” to be done away,” in 1 Corinthians 13:8-10. Now, of the relation of Christ to the Law, St. Paul says, in Romans 3:31, “Do we make void the Law? God forbid! Yea, we establish the Law.” The Law, therefore, is abolished as a law “in ordinances”--that is, “in the letter”--and is established in the spirit."

What does it mean to establish the law in the spirit? Or perhaps a more accurate question might be what does it mean to say that Jesus established the law in the spirit?

In a sermon about Romans 3:27-31,  John Piper makes some comments that I think shed a clarifying light on this topic:

"what the moral law of God requires of us, we will do, if we pursue it by faith, as those who are already justified, and not by works, in order to be justified. If we get right with God first by faith alone, and then live in that freedom of love and acceptance and justification, we will be changed from the inside out and will begin to love the very things the moral law requires so that they become established in our lives-not as works of merit, but as the fruit of faith (1 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Thessalonians 1:11) and fruit of the Spirit"

I really think that second reference that Piper points to says it well:

"we pray for you all the time - pray that our God will make you fit for what he's called you to be, pray that he'll fill your good ideas and acts of faith with his own energy so that it all amounts to something" (MSG)

It's all about God.  Jesus' work on the cross made it so His very Spirit can live in me.  The Holy Spirit in me calls out to me to be in His Word.  As I'm in His Word I realize anew His love, grace, justification.  These things change me. He is changing me.  I don't need letter of the law thinking, I want Spirit of the law.  In and of itself, the moral law is good.  It helps me get my thoughts straight about what is wrong and what is right. But it is the Holy Spirit inside me, changing me, that produces right living by me - not me looking on the outside and conforming to standards of right living.

So, what does all this mean to me in my daily life?

• It's not my place to be the law-judger and go around judging other people.  I can leave that to God.  Of course I need to be wise in my interactions with people, so I will watch and listen.  I will make "judgements" in that sense of the word.  But by God's Spirit, may I not fall into a judgmental attitude.
• The feelings of not-being-good enough do not have a place in my life.  It is never about that.  God made me good enough.  There may be specific areas in my life where improvement is needed, and by His grace and power I will seek to improve.  But, I am good in His sight.  I am acceptable and beloved. There is no criteria to which I need to measure myself.
• I can spend time thanking God for what He has already done through His Spirit in me.  This is bigger than it sounds: Instead of pining for righteousness - I can spend time speaking aloud thanksgiving for the work He has already done and is continuing in me.  I can ask for wisdom in how I can cooperate with Him specifically throughout the day.  The focus is on faith and God and not on me and activities to "get it right." 

Oh dear God, thank You.  I can never thank you enough.Your ways are just so much greater and better than mine.  Thank  You more than I know how to say for what You've done for me in Jesus! Thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit.  Thank You for working in me.  Show me specific ways that I can cooperate with You today.  Help me hear You well today.

Jesus changes all of that

Graphic taken from Vimeo

Today I'm looking at Ephesians 2:11-13:

But don’t take any of this for granted. It was only yesterday that you outsiders to God’s ways had no idea of any of this, didn’t know the first thing about the way God works, hadn’t the faintest idea of Christ. You knew nothing of that rich history of God’s covenants and promises in Israel, hadn’t a clue about what God was doing in the world at large. Now because of Christ—dying that death, shedding that blood—you who were once out of it altogether are in on everything.(MSG)
 
If, when I read a passage, nothing exactly pops out to me, then I look at the passage in 4 ways: what did it mean to the people it was written to, what could it generally mean to people, what are some general applications of this scripture, what does it mean to me personally.

What does this passage mean for who this was written to:
Paul wrote this to the church in Ephesus.  For around the past two thousand years God had revealed Himself to the Jewish nation.  Starting in Genesis 12:1-3 God called Abraham to follow him and promised that he would be the father of a great nation.  God also told Abraham that through him all nations would be blessed.  It was the Jewish nation about whom the Old Testament is directly relating their history.  The Bible indicates in Acts 4:16 that God had basically allowed the non-Jews to just walk in their own ways.  But God's promise to Abraham that through him all nations would be blessed was fulfilled in Jesus.  To the church in Ephesus these verses explain that God's salvation is for everyone - not just the Jews. 

What does this passage mean to people in general:
All people, before they come into a relationship with God through Christ, are outsiders to God's ways. We act according to what seems right to us.  Sometimes we show some wisdom and we do alright.  Other times we just give in to our sinful nature and end up with all kinds of problems.  We don't understand the rich history of how God worked with Israel that is recorded in the Old Testament. We don't see how God is working in the world around us. But Jesus changes all of that.

What are some general applications of this scripture:  

• Don't take your relationship with God for granted, God planned it for you throughout time
• Get to know God and His ways better through God's Spirit helping you read the Word and study
• Don't discriminate against anyone since God loves ALL people
• Don't see yourself as better than anyone else since God's plan through Jesus is for all people
• You don't need to feel alone because God's got you with Him

What does it mean to me personally, what is the Holy Spirit speaking to my heart through this passage:
I don't have to live like everyone else around me.  I don't have to be discouraged by circumstances at work.  I don't need to feel hurt or sad that 2 of my 3 sons don't reach out to me very often and I miss them. I can know that God's got good plans for me.  I am in on what He is doing.

Oh Father, show me what You're doing here in the world around me.  Help me see things through You're way of seeing things so that I can join in Your work. 

What kind of God is this?

Photo from Christian Poetry

As I'm reading through Ephesians 2:1-10 my spirit zeros in on this theme of God wanting to do us so much good. In verses 7-8 I'm blown away by this theme (I'm especially partial to the way Peterson paraphrases these verses in the Message):

Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. 

Then again down in the 10th verse I read:

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (NIV)

Albert Barnes wrote about these verses and I appreciate the ways he says it:

"Such was his love toward those who were lost, that it would be an everlasting monument of his mercy, a perpetual and unchanging proof that he was good"

As I read these verses I'm hit with this this idea that there is God.  The God, the one who is the almighty, all knowing, creator of the universe, ruler of all. This same God is here planning and desiring to do so much good to all mankind. So much good to me.  I ask myself - What kind of God is this? That He would want all the time in this world and the one to come to shower grace and kindness on me. That He would prepare good works for me to be about in my life. That He would bother to have a plan for someone like me. What does it say about Him? What does this mean to me?

I want to look at each of these questions burning in my heart.  

What do these verses say about God?  As I think and pray about that, this is what comes to my mind:

• God thinks about humanity, He makes plans for us
• God wants to shower humanity with kindness and grace
• God will do what He wants for humanity through Jesus
• He wants to save us from the natural destruction that living according to our flesh will result in 
• God wants to give us salvation, He doesn't want to make us work for it
• He has a purpose for humanity
• He has good works that he planned for us to do

What does this mean to me? As I think about pray about it, this is what comes to mind:

• I'm loved
• I've got lots of both kindness and grace in my life 
• I'm created to be an example of how good, kind, and full of grace God is
• I'm supposed to give what I've received - I need to every day look for ways to extend God's kindness and grace to other people.  As I think on this I'm hit right now by the need to be praying throughout the day as I work or live with people - OK Lord, how exactly do You want me to extend Your grace and kindness to this person right now?
• My life is not some thing of chance.  God's got a plan for me.  He's prepared good stuff for me to be doing.  I have purpose.

Oh Father, may Your Word work in me.  May I know and experience in my deepest part, Your mercy and kindness.  May the joy of these gifts permeate my life.  Holy Spirit, please remind and prompt me throughout my days to let You show me how to extend mercy and kindness to the people I encounter.

Be Sober

Photo from Listening to God Forum

I've never been a devil chaser.  I've always been uncomfortable with those types of Christians.

In fact, just this week I was talking with an employee about her grievous misdeeds that I witnessed from our camera footage at work. I had her look at what I'd seen on camera, and then let her explain her actions from her viewpoint.  She talked at length.  When, at the end of her monologue, she started to get into talking about Satan getting the best of her, I finally cut her off.

Yet....

I try, by God's grace and power, to take the Word at what it says.

I can't get around this passage here in Ephesians 2:1-3, especially the second verse:

 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,(NKJV)


John McArthur points out that the word "world" used in this verse is Kosmos and that it:

"does not represent simply the physical creation but the world order, the world's system of values and way of doing things-the world's course And as Paul makes it clear, the world follows the leadership and design of Satan"

John Piper has a truly worthwhile sermon on these very same first 3 verses in Ephesians; it's entitled Why we need a Savior: captive to an alien power, by nature children of wrath.I appreciate how in this sermon Piper explains the analogy of Satan being the prince of the air as well as the corroborating scriptures he brings in to verify that Paul is indeed speaking about Satan in this verse.

Piper explains the analogy of prince of the air this way:

"Air is everywhere.

Air is where we live. Between heaven above and earth beneath is the realm of air, and that is the habitation of man. Sometimes we say things like, "there's excitement in the air". What we mean is that excitement seems to be gripping everybody. Its influence is so widespread that it simply must be in the air.

That's Paul's point, the influence of the power spoken of in verse 2 is so pervasive, that it can be called the power of the air."

Scriptures which corroborate that the prince of the power of the air is Satan are:

Ephesians 6:12: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.(NIV)

Matthew 12:24, note the second part of the verse where the Pharisees are talking about Satan and refer to him as "the prince of demons"(NIV).

2 Corinthians 4:4 where Paul is referring to Satan as the "god of this age" (NIV, NKJV).

John 12:31, John 14:30, & John 16:11 where Jesus refers to Satan as the "ruler of this world" (NIV, NKJV)

Luke 4:6 when Satan is bragging to Jesus he proclaims that he has authority over this world.   

It's apparent that Satan has some power in this world.  1 Corinthians 2:14 indicates that the natural man is greatly influenced by this power because he can't understand the things of God.  As a Christian, between the pervasive influence of Satan on my culture, and the pull of my own flesh, I can be influenced too. I'm reminded of 1 John 2:15-17 that talks about the sources of temptation, one of which is simply my own flesh. 

What does all of this mean to me, today, in my life? 

Do I need to become a "devil-sighter"?  Must I always be on the look out, trying to see where Satan is working?  I am reminded of 1 Peter 5:8-9 which could be interpreted to indicate that I'm to be on the look out for Satan.  However, I'm intrigued by the Amplified Bible translation of these 2 verses in 1 Peter:

 Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour. ⁹ But resist him, be firm in your faith [against his attack—rooted, established, immovable], knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being experienced by your brothers and sisters throughout the world. [You do not suffer alone.]

This translation speaks to me about an approach to life, more than about looking for the devil under every rock.  I need to seek, by His Spirit within me:

• to live a well balanced and self-disciplined life
• to live in the realization that there are spiritual forces around me
• to be firm in my faith 

Repeatedly in my life it comes back this. Staying in the word from which my hope and faith is derived.  I'm reminded of Romans 12:1-2 where I'm told to constantly stay in the Word so His Spirit can change the way I think.  God is constantly reminding me to speak His truth and not the lies in the culture around me. Oh Father, You know me. You know that I can't do this on my own. I'm so much like water; I just want to run along the easiest path of least resistance.  Change me. Empower me.  Help me stay close to You.  Because I so desperately need You.  Thank You for loving me.  Thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit.  I can never thank You enough.
  
As I've been doing this study today a song by an old music group named Petra has been coming to my mind: Not of this World. You can click this title to find the lyrics and listen.