Category: Ephesians

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Chosen Personally

This morning three of our grandchildren are asleep in the loft. We love having them come for sleepovers.

Dave & I reminisce of our times spent with grandparents and we want to make lifelong memories for our littles. We want to be instrumental in teaching them values and purpose. We want them to know how special they are to us and to the Lord.

It’s important that we know how precious we are to the Lord, not only when we are children but also in our later years. The Lord has chosen each one of us.

In Arizona we have a number of major league baseball teams that bring their Spring Training camps here. The purpose – to choose the best players for the team.

Do you remember being a kid and playing a game of kick ball, tag, even baseball? You know what I’m talking about; all the kids in the neighborhood line up, select 2 captains and then they choose teams.

I was not athletic and so I was always one of the last ones chosen. Even now I wouldn’t be chosen for my sense of fashion, education, exceptional good looks, financial status or my athletic abilities. Does that hurt my feelings like it used to?

No, not anymore because you see I realize that I have been chosen for the team and it’s not because of my talents or abilities but it’s because of the Captain’s amazing love and acceptance.

If you’re feeling left out today, Unaccepted. Untalented. Lacking. Focus on this.

“But you are his chosen people, the King’s priests. You are a holy nation, people who belong to God. He chose you to tell about the wonderful things he has done. He brought you out of the darkness of sin into his wonderful light. 10 In the past you were not a special people, but now you are God’s people. Once you had not received mercy, but now God has given you his mercy.” I Peter 2:9-10 ERV

“Remember, in Noah’s time I punished the world with the flood. But I made a promise to Noah that I would never again destroy the world with water. In the same way, I promise that I will never again be angry with you and say bad things to you. 10 ‘The mountains may disappear, and the hills may become dust, but my faithful love will never leave you. I will make peace with you, and it will never end.’ The Lord who loves you said this.” Isaiah 54:9-10 ERV

“God was kind and decided that Christ would choose us to be God’s own adopted children. 6 God was very kind to us because of the Son he dearly loves, and so we should praise God. 7-8 Christ sacrificed his life’s blood to set us free, which means that our sins are now forgiven. Christ did this because God was so kind to us. God has great wisdom and understanding, 9 and by what Christ has done, God has shown us his own mysterious ways.” Ephesians 1:5-9 CEV

“I am the Lord your God. I am holding your hand, so don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.” Isaiah 41:13 CEV

“I am with you, and I will protect you everywhere you go. I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised.” Genesis 28:15 ERV

It’s time to swing for the fences because we have been chosen by God Almighty!

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At Work in Us

“ With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of.” Ephesians 3:20 ERV

At home this morning, with my favorite coffee cup in hand, I continue to focus on the mighty, never-ending, precious love of God.

Reading in Matthew, chapter 14, I was reminded of the account of John the Baptist’ death. The ruler, Herod, was bothered greatly by the reports and miracles of Jesus’ ministry. He made comment that he believed John the Baptist had come back to life.

You see, he had beheaded John the Baptist out of purely selfish motives. He knew John was a man of God but ordered his death anyway and now he felt John had come back from the grave.

Jesus dearly loved his cousin and was grieving his death. Jesus told his disciples he was going into the desert to be alone. But the crowd found out about it and got to the place before He did.

“ When He got out of the boat, He saw many people. He had loving-pity for them and healed those who were sick.” Matthew 14:14 NLV

Not only did Jesus heal the sick, He fed the hungry with five loaves and two fish.

“ He told the people to sit down on the grass. Then He took the five loaves of bread and two fish. He looked up to heaven and gave thanks. He broke the loaves in pieces and gave them to His followers. The followers gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were filled. They picked up twelve baskets full of pieces of bread and fish after the people were finished eating.” Matthew 14:19-20 NLV

It was the loving compassion of our heavenly Father that moved through Jesus to heal the sick and it was also His loving-compassion that provided food for their bodies. Jesus, in his grief, didn’t stop His work of showing out the love of God.

“ God is able to do much more than we ask or think through His power working in us.” Ephesians 3:20 NLV

But Jesus’ day wasn’t over. He told the disciples to go back to the other side of the lake, sent the people away and then spent time alone with the Father in prayer (the thing He had intended to do from the beginning).

“ After He had sent them away, He went up the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone.” Matthew 14:23 NLV

The disciples encountered a storm on the lake and were in fear of the boat sinking. Jesus had prayed all night and just before the light of day, the Bible says, He came walking on the water.

The disciples were afraid and thought they had seen a ghost. Jesus called out to them, “Don’t be afraid”. That’s when Peter spoke up, “Lord, if it’s You let me come out to You”. Jesus said, “Come on out Peter”.

Peter started walking on the water to Jesus (according to the power of God) but when he saw the waves and felt the wind he took his eyes off Jesus, entered into fear again, and began to sink. Jesus lifted him up and they walked to the boat.

Jesus question to Peter was “why did you doubt”. I think He asks the same question of us on so many occasions.

“ Those in the boat worshiped Jesus. They said, “For sure, You are the Son of God!” Matthew 14:33 NLV

This is what the Apostle Paul wanted us to see and understand. The power of God working in us and that power was/is activated by God’s love for us. We need to understand that.

“I pray that because of the riches of His shining-greatness, He will make you strong with power in your hearts through the Holy Spirit. 17 I pray that Christ may live in your hearts by faith. I pray that you will be filled with love. 18 I pray that you will be able to understand how wide and how long and how high and how deep His love is. 19 I pray that you will know the love of Christ. His love goes beyond anything we can understand. I pray that you will be filled with God Himself.

20 God is able to do much more than we ask or think through His power working in us.” Ephesians 3:16-20 CEV

And I pray that for each of us – may we be strong in the love of God and be filled with Him, so that His power will be working through us!

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Incomparable & Absolutely Amazing

Once again, my heart is overwhelmed as I sit here this morning thinking about the unconditional, everlasting, unfailing love of God!

There are no words to adequately express what causes my heart to swell and my eyes to tear as I sit in the quiet knowing I am surrounded by His matchless love.

So, I will let God’s word speak for me.

“…I am the Lord God. I am merciful and very patient with my people. I show great love, and I can be trusted.” Exodus 34:6 CEV

“Lord God of heaven, you are great and fearsome. And you faithfully keep your promises to everyone who loves you and obeys your commands.” Nehemiah 1:5 CEV

“But I will sing about your strength, my God, and I will celebrate because of your love. You are my fortress, my place of protection in times of trouble.” Psalm 59:16 CEV

“Praise the God of all gods. God‘s love never fails.” Psalm 136:2 CeV

“The Lord your God wins victory after victory and is always with you. He celebrates and sings because of you, and he will refresh your life with his love.” Zephaniah 3:17 CEV

“God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.” John 3:16 CEV

” …God loves you and has chosen you to be his very own people. I pray that God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!” Romans 1:7 CEV

“I have died, but Christ lives in me. And I now live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me.” Galatians 2:20 CEV

“But God was merciful! We were dead because of our sins, but God loved us so much he made us alive with Christ, and God‘s gift of undeserved grace is what saves you.” Ephesians 2:4-5 CEV

“I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, 39 and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!” Romans 8:38-39 CEV

There is a praise song I sometimes sing and it is bubbling in my heart right now, “Reckless Love of God”. The chorus goes something like this:

“Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine
And I couldn’t earn it, I don’t deserve it, still You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God”

Don’t let circumstances, worry, fear or doubt steal the peace that God gives. We are wrapped in His arms, held there by His never-ending, unconditional, everlasting love!

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So Much Better

Happy Valentine’s Day!

These are verses I always like to read on February 14th – Valentine’s Day. They are such a wonderful reminder of the greatest of God’s love for us.

I don’t normally include the footnotes with verses but this morning I did. You need to read it and absorb the meaning of grace – some much better than we deserve.

“3 Once we were also ruled by the selfish desires of our bodies and minds. We had made God angry, and we were going to be punished like everyone else.

4-5 But God was merciful! We were dead because of our sins, but God loved us so much he made us alive with Christ, and God’s gift of undeserved grace is what saves you. 6 God raised us from death to life with Christ Jesus, and he has given us a place beside Christ in heaven. 7 God did this so in the future world he could show how truly good and kind he is to us because of what Christ Jesus has done. 8 You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve.[a] This is God’s gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. 9 It isn’t something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about. 10 God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. This is why he sent Christ to make us what we are.” Ephesians 2:3-10 CEV

Footnotes

2.8 treats us much better than we deserve: The Greek word charis, traditionally rendered “grace,” is translated here and other places in the CEV to express the overwhelming kindness of God.

God’s gift to us!

“But I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you. If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35 CEV

When we seek the Father with all our heart, we will want to be like Him. Imitate Him. Then others will be drawn to Him like we were when we came to Christ.

Jesus wants us to have an abundant life. King David knew that when he wrote the Psalms, hundreds of years before Christ was born.

“A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so everyone would have life, and have it fully.” John 10:10 CEV (Jesus)

“Your kindness and love will always be with me each day of my life, and I will live forever in your house, Lord.” Psalm 23:6 CEV (King David)

” God treats everyone alike. He accepts people only because they have faith in Jesus Christ. 23 All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. 24 But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins.” Romans 3:22-24 CEV (Apostle Paul)

Our heavenly Father isn’t looking to quench our lives, on the contrary, He has given us an abundant life filled with His love which is so much better than we deserve!

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A Tradition of Love

Those of you in my age group remember the days of taking a shoe box to school, covering it with construction paper, cutting out hearts and pasting them to the box and then, fingers crossed, hoping that your classmates would put nice Valentines in it.

For the past number of years, I feel like I have done that in the month of February. I’ve shared Valentines from God’s word to brighten your day. So here we go again.

“ I pray that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. I pray that your life will be strong in love and be built on love. 18 And I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide, how long, how high, and how deep that love is. 19 Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you.” Ephesians 3:17-19 ERV

Our hearts, our lives, will be strong when we are filled with an understanding of God’s deep and amazing love.

The Apostle Paul, who wrote this letter to the Ephesian Christians, understood the depth of God’s love.

He had been a zealot. Arresting, persecuting and even responsible for the deaths of many Christians in the early days of the church. He thought the message of Christ, being the Son of God and raising from the dead was heresy and it needed to be stopped.

Then one day, with arrest warrants in his pocket, he had an encounter with the Lord. God spoke to him in a bright light from heaven.

“ So Saul went to Damascus. When he came near the city, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shined around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”

5 Saul said, “Who are you, Lord?”

The voice answered, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 6 Get up now and go into the city. Someone there will tell you what you must do.” Acts 9:3-6 ERV

In that one moment, Paul (formerly known as Saul), was changed. He went into the town and a godly man cared for him and taught him about Christ. God used him to be a missionary to the Gentile nations.

He spent the rest of his life traveling all across the Mediterranean preaching the gospel, telling of the risen Savior and the love that God has for everyone.

In these verses he says that he wants us to understand the depth of the love of God but then he goes on to say its greater than anyone can know but still he wants us to know it.

Seems like a contradiction but what I think he’s saying is that we are to be focused on the loving and forgiving nature of God and when we think we fully understand the amazing depth, length, height and width of God’s love for us we will realize that we are just beginning to comprehend it. It is so much greater; we will spend the rest of our lives going deeper and deeper into the love of God.

“ Yes, I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not death, life, angels, or ruling spirits. I am sure that nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us or nothing below us—nothing in the whole created world—will ever be able to separate us from the love God has shown us in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 ERV

Join me in this annual February tradition of exploring the depths of God’s love. He alone will fill that Valentine box to full and overflowing!

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There is One

I just felt you could use a chuckle to start your day.

We’ve all seen this child. Perhaps this is your kid or even more honestly, perhaps you are this child. Never predictable, always unorthodox, always challenging. Always loved!

“Live and work without pride. Be gentle and kind. Do not be hard on others. Let love keep you from doing that.” Ephesians 4:2 NLV

For those of us who have raised this child or perhaps work with them, the above verse is an admonition from the Apostle Paul.

Sometimes we try too hard to be perfect or to make others into what we think is perfect. I’m sure Peter gave the Lord a chuckle and a head shake on more than one occasion. Impetus, speak-before-you-think kind of guy. Walking on water one minute and rebuking Jesus the next. Yes, definitely one to make the Lord stand back and shake his head.

God was working in him, refining him, but using him – this bold, unconventional, burly fisherman – for His glory. He went from being a brash fisherman to one of the pillars of the early church.

” 3 Work hard to live together as one by the help of the Holy Spirit. Then there will be peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit. There is one hope in which you were called. 5 There is one Lord and one faith and one baptism. 6 There is one God. He is the Father of us all. He is over us all. He is the One working through us all. He is the One living in us all. 7 Loving-favor has been given to each one of us. We can see how great it is by the gift of Christ.” Ephesians 4:3-7 NLV

One God over all of us, working through us all, living in all of us. He has given each one of us His loving-kindness. Including that “one”. They, too, are loved by God.

Each of us are unique and we are called to be part of the body of Christ. We are one in Him; our talents and contributions are for His glory. Our imperfection points to His perfect love.

“ I pray that Christ Jesus and the church will forever bring praise to God. His power at work in us can do far more than we dare ask or imagine. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 CEV

There is One and He is worthy of all honor and praise!

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Forgotten – Forgiven

I saw an image similar to the one I’m using this morning on a friend’s FB page yesterday. I had never seen this verse like this before.

“For unto us a child is born, and unto us a Son is given.” The reason the Son came was to forgive!

As I lay in the dark this morning so many thoughts came swirling through my mind.

“In Christ, he chose us before the world was made. He chose us in love to be his holy people—people who could stand before him without any fault. 5 And before the world was made, God decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. This was what God wanted, and it pleased him to do it. ” Ephesians 1:4-5 ERV

In Christ we were chosen by God the Father before the world was made! In Christ, we can stand before the Father and He sees us as faultless. We are forgiven.

“And I will forgive the wrongs they have done, and I will not remember their sins.” Hebrews 8:12

“ Because we broke God’s laws, we owed a debt—a debt that listed all the rules we failed to follow. But God forgave us of that debt. He took it away and nailed it to the cross.” Colossians 2:14 ERV

“Christ died for us when we were unable to help ourselves. We were living against God, but at just the right time Christ died for us. 7 Very few people will die to save the life of someone else, even if it is for a good person. Someone might be willing to die for an especially good person. 8 But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us.” Romans 5:6-8 ERV

In God’s eyes I have no past. He has forgotten my failings, my sins. He sees me completely cleansed by the shed blood of Jesus.

“His love for his followers is as high above us as heaven is above the earth. 12 And he has taken our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west. 13 The Lord is as kind to his followers as a father is to his children.” Psalms 103:11-13 ERV

Completely cleansed, forever forgotten.

That’s the message of Christmas. “For unto us a child is born, and unto to us a Son is given.”

We are forgiven and our sins are forgotten because of Christ. His gift to us is forgiveness. I pray you have received it and are sharing this wonderful gift with others.

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The Best Gifts

This morning my heart is filled with gratitude and joy.

God has graciously blessed every one of us with so many wonderful gifts.

“ He gives us everything we need for life and for holy living. He gives it through His great power. As we come to know Him better, we learn that He called us to share His own shining-greatness and perfect life. 4 Through His shining-greatness and perfect life, He has given us promises. These promises are of great worth and no amount of money can buy them. Through these promises you can have God’s own life in you now that you have gotten away from the sinful things of the world which came from wrong desires of the flesh.” II Peter 1:3-4 NLV

My heart is filled with gratitude this morning; God’s amazing love is overwhelming; His peace passes all understanding (that means I can’t figure out how I can have so much peace when things seem anything but peaceful) and His grace (giving me what I don’t deserve) is so marvelous!

Each day I have the opportunity to receive these gifts anew; each day I have the opportunity to share these gifts with others; each day I have the joy of saying thank you to my wonderful Father who has given these gifts to me!

“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” Ephesians 4:7 KJV

The gifts we have been given are not for our benefit alone. We have the opportunity to share them with others. The Holy Spirit is the giver of these gifts. He empowers us so that we become a blessing to others.

Just as our hands help our feet by putting on our shoes and socks or our sense of smell helps to keep us from eating something that is spoiled, our Spirit-given gifts help others in the body of Christ to grow and mature in the things of God.

“The Holy Spirit works in each person in one way or another for the good of all. 8 One person is given the gift of teaching words of wisdom. Another person is given the gift of teaching what he has learned and knows. These gifts are by the same Holy Spirit. 9 One person receives the gift of faith. Another person receives the gifts of healing. These gifts are given by the same Holy Spirit. 10 One person is given the gift of doing powerful works. Another person is given the gift of speaking God’s Word. Another person is given the gift of telling the difference between the Holy Spirit and false spirits. Another person is given the gift of speaking in special sounds. Another person is given the gift of telling what these special sounds mean. 11 But it is the same Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, Who does all these things. He gives to each person as He wants to give.” I Corinthians 12:7-11 NLV

We receive our gifts from God and then we use them for His glory.

No one is left out. Everyone receives. Share what you’ve been given. It will be a wonderful blessing to those around you!

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Just As You Are

Yesterday Dave and I worked hard the entire day. We had planned to get together with friends in the evening but ended up staying home, feet propped up and watching a movie on tv.

It was a movie that made me cry. No, not a Hallmark movie. The movie title is “A Carpenter’s Prayer”. Very good, I recommend it.

The premise – a drunk, who has carpentry skills, helps a church who is building a new complex. They love him just the way he is. They help him with work, food, friendship and finding Jesus. I won’t tell you how it ends but at one place in the movie the man realizes that Jesus will accept him just the way he is.

I went to bed remembering my own experience and realization that Jesus loves me just the way I am and that I needed a Savior. I’m so thankful that we don’t need to be “good enough” to be saved.

“God did this so that his kindness to us who belong to Christ Jesus would clearly show for all time to come the amazing richness of his grace.

8 I mean that you have been saved by grace because you believed. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God. 9 You are not saved by the things you have done, so there is nothing to boast about.” Ephesians 2:7-9 ERV

We come to relationship with Christ just as we are.

We don’t wash our cars before we take them to the car wash. That would be silly. It isn’t our good deeds that get Christ to love us. His love is unconditional; His grace is unmerited; His sacrifice paid the price for everyone.

“When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world. The old things are gone; suddenly, everything is new! 18 All this is from God. Through Christ, God made peace between himself and us. And God gave us the work of bringing people into peace with him. 19 I mean that God was in Christ, making peace between the world and himself. In Christ, God did not hold people guilty for their sins. And he gave us this message of peace to tell people. 20 So we have been sent to speak for Christ. It is like God is calling to people through us. We speak for Christ when we beg you to be at peace with God. 21 Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could be right with God.” II Corinthians 5:17-21 ERV

I grew up hearing “I’m just an old sinner saved by grace” nearly every Sunday evening. But that’s not true. We WERE old sinners but once we are saved we are a new creation. We are now called saints; we have become a child of God.

“ All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. 24 But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins.” Romans 3:23-24 CEV

God doesn’t want us looking back to who we once were, that part of our life is dead. He wants us looking forward to who He created us to be.

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No Greater Love

Last evening I joined a few friends for prayer. I am always blessed to join a prayer gathering.

“ I promise that when any two of you on earth agree about something you are praying for, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 20 Whenever two or three of you come together in my name, I am there with you.” Matthew 18:19-20 CEV

Knowing the Father is right there with us when we pray is hard to imagine but He said it so it must be true!

Why would He involve Himself in our little prayer meeting? The answer is two-fold. He loves us and He is concerned about those things that concern us.

He cares!

We have been a part of God’s heart since the beginning of time. Once again, that is a hard statement to comprehend but it’s true because God, the Father, told us it is.

“Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for the spiritual blessings that Christ has brought us from heaven! 4 Before the world was created, God had Christ choose us to live with him and to be his holy and innocent and loving people. 5 God was kind and decided that Christ would choose us to be God’s own adopted children. 6 God treated us with undeserved grace because of the Son he dearly loves, and so we should praise God.” Ephesians 1:3-6 CEV

God is kind and He had Christ choose us before the world began. Before “let there be light” God chose us to be His children. As His children He invites us to come to Him with everything, we have an open-door policy into His throne room.

“ So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved grace, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:16 CEV

That’s what prayer is – coming bravely with our concerns and needs. He is trustworthy and He will help.

Why?

Because of Jesus – his life, his death, his resurrection. He chose us from heaven, and then He came to earth to bring us to Father. It cost Him His life, but He was willing to lay it down for us all.

“Christ died once for our sins. An innocent person died for those who are guilty. Christ did this to bring you to God, when his body was put to death and his spirit was made alive.” I Peter 3:18 CEV

“ No one can have greater love than to give his life for his friends.” John 15:13 NLV

No greater love!

What more does God need to do to prove His love for us? We were chosen before the foundation of the world to be His children and then He sent His Son to earth to pay the price for our salvation.

No greater love!

Father God, I pray for those reading this short message. Fill their hearts with the wisdom to understand Your great love. Fill them with hope; fill them with peace. Give them confidence to know that we can all come boldly to Your throne and find help in our time of need. We need You every day. We bring our families, our health, our finances, our nation to You. We trust You. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

There is no greater love than this and I am grateful to be a recipient of that love!

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