Today's Passage:  Ephesians 3

Ephesians 3:14-21 is one of my favorite passages of scripture.  Paul stops in the middle of this letter and prays for the church in Ephesus...and what a prayer he prays!  I encourage you to go back and read this part of the passage slowly, stopping in each verse to let the power of these words wash over you.  What if we could experience the same things Paul prays for today!

I would love to have the power to grasp the love of Christ...a love, Paul says, surpasses knowledge.  It is a love so high, so wide, so deep, so long that we can never see its boundaries.  While we put boundaries on love all the time (like "I'll love you as long as you....), God's love knows no such limits.  I can never, even as hard as I try sometimes, work my way out of the love that God has for me.

Spend a few moments today thanking God for His immeasurable love.  Honor Him today by finding someone you can love in the same manner!

Today's Passage: Isaiah 9-10

The beginning of this passage is no doubt talking about Jesus. God is promising relief and salvation for his people and for those who would accept his gift of grace. The six verses that describe this coming Messiah are so hopeful and sound wonderful. However, what follows it immediately describes what happens to those who go against the Lord and his ways. This contrast makes the coming Messiah appear so wonderful, which we know his is!

I love the imagery of the light in the darkness. What happened when Christ came was that those who were lost, now could find their way. Those who were trapped in darkness, now had light from which to see. Those who knew no other way than the depths of darkness, were now in the presence of a great light. Isaiah continues on to explain further this job people will experience with Christ, the coming Messiah. He describes victory in battle. He speaks of a child, a gift of grace for all who would accept, and describes him as Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. These descriptions spoke to the people in Isaiah's day and should speak to us now. And the final victory that the Lord wins is accomplished by his great zeal. God is so powerful that he brings all this about by his "passionate intensity." What a God we serve! Take some time to reflect on his might and on his grace today.

Today's Passage: Ephesians 2

God shows immeasurable riches of His grace towards us, who once followed "the prince of the power of the air," who were once enemies of the cross, and who once fulfilled only our fleshly desires. He has shown us His character by shedding grace on those who were against him, not just for this age but for many ages to come. The glory and honor of our Lord will spread throughout all generations from now and into eternity.

We see that not only has God saved us but united us as one body with the circumcised (aka the Jewish nation and chosen people of God). We see that He is building a temple starting with the cornerstone, Jesus Christ, then the foundation, the prophets and the apostles, and then the remainder, we the saints. He has made us one! Not only believers becoming one with other believers, but believers becoming one with Jesus Christ.

This is grace: that even we, who were once defiled by sin, are cleansed and united with righteousness.

Today's Passage:  Isaiah 7-8

We put a lot of trust into many untrustworthy sources in our culture.  For example the news, movies, pop singers, websites, etc. all get our trust for the most part.  We generally believe that these sources are in fact true.  Therefore, we use these sources to get information, to enjoy music and entertainment, or simply just to laugh.  But at the end of the day we usually are not suspicious.  While this may seem like a harmless way to live, I would like to suggest a danger of this lifestyle.  Over time we as people can just generally trust the media, people around us, and most importantly ourselves to be able to make it through the day.  In effect we are saying the God is really not needed to make this world spin.  In others We have under control!

This is the type of discussion that Ahaz and Isaiah are having in chapter 7 of our reading.  Ahaz is putting his trust in another ruler's ability to lead an army.  He is even making sound spiritual (i.e. when he says to God, 'no one should put God to the test').  Isaiah challenges Ahaz to turn and put his trust completely in God.  Because God is the one who in fact do anything no matter how big or small the army (recall David and Goliath story). 

Where is your trust today?  Is it in your ability?  Maybe it is in the ability of others?  We have to be very comfortable with the fact that God knows what He is doing.  We must learn to trust Him in the good and bad.  Will you trust Him in the big and small things today?

Today's Passage: Ephesians 1

I absolutely love the book of Ephesians!  So I am very excited to get us started on our adventure through it.  An important thing to know about Ephesians is the format that Paul wrote it in.  The book of Ephesians can be neatly cut down the middle between the end of chapter 3 and the start of chapter 4.  The first three chapters deal specifically with belief and the privileges of Christians.  While the last three chapters focus on behavior and the responsibilities of Christians.

Here in chapter 1 we find Paul's customary salutation, a three part declaration of God's plan for His people followed by a prayer for the church in Ephesus.  Paul describes in verses 3-14 God's plan for us and how the three parts of the trinity are involved.  In verses 3-6 Paul explains that we were chosen by the Father before time began; in verses 7-12 he explains that we were redeemed by His son Jesus through His death on the cross and finally in verses 13 & 14 Paul makes clear that the gift of the Holy Spirit is like a seal that marks us for the inheritance that we will receive when Jesus returns. 

Paul's prayer for the church in Ephesus not only praises them for their faith in the Father but it also establishes the truth of Christ as the head of the church.  This established truth will be what Paul builds upon for the rest of the book, as the universal church is the focus of Ephesians.  As modern-day believers we should be praying this same prayer that we find in verses 18-23 for our churches.  We must always strive to exalt our Lord Jesus Christ while humbling ourselves, especially when it comes to the matters of the church..

Today's Passage: Isaiah 5-6

I remember getting the newest GI JOE or STAR WARS toy on Christmas morning as a kid, something I had been wanting for months. WOW!  I would just sit and stare at it.  Then, the inevitable would happen, I would get bored with it and begin desiring the next big shiny, cool toy.  We often treat our relationship with God this way.  So much of our walk with God is focused on events or material things.  We are really no different than the Israelites.  Just like them, we get something from God and then it is not long before we are back to our own way of doing things.  This reality is what is behind chapter five and Isaiah's commission to speak to the people with them not hearing or accepting the message.  What about Isaiah's experience in chapter six?  God reveals Himself to Isaiah and he submits to the point of fear for his unclean life.  This is the reality of worship.  God initiates and we respond in submission to Him.  We want things from God, not His person, His relationship, or His rule in the deepest parts of our hearts.  These are the things that true worship bring in our lives.  The beauty is that God knows our frailties and our desire for things and keeps on revealing Himself to us.  This is also why Jesus said many times in John 15, "Abide in Me."  The verb tense used actually means, "keep on abiding;" it's a process.  Look for God to reveal Himself to you today, and submit and abide!

Today's Passage:  Galatians 6

What a challenging chapter!  It seems every sentence in Galatians 6 tells us something that we know we should do, but also something that's very hard to do as well.  I encourage you to read this chapter very slowly...maybe even just read until God stops you and dwell there.  This is one of those chapters where there is something for everyone!

Verse 7 is especially challenging...does anyone really think God can be mocked?  Who among us would be so bold to go up to the creator of the universe and taunt Him?  And yet the scriptures here make it clear:  When we choose to sin, we mock the grace that has been so freely given through Christ.  This doesn't mean we aren't forgiven...I'm so grateful that God's grace is not dependent on my actions!  But when we take that free grace and then act in a way that doesn't honor it, then we are in actuality mocking the God who gave grace so freely. 

Let us not tire of doing good!  Let's live life in a way that honors our creator.  Let's struggle against sin, and in doing so, honor the crown of life we've been given through the cross!