Aaron Hufty

Rooted and Grounded

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 3:14-21 (day two)

…and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸may be able to comprehend…

From the distance of a TV screen or newsfeed we have all just witnessed the awesome power and devastation of a hurricane upon the Southeastern United States. In the coming days efforts will be made by many to help those affected to begin to piece together what remains of their belongings, their homes, families, and lives. It is an awesome sight to behold the destruction of such wind and rain, and yet there are some things that somehow withstand those forces. Often, they are centuries-old trees whose root system extends almost as deep as the tree is tall. This system of grounding, designed by the almighty, was fashioned to serve the purpose of withstanding adversity.

Paul reminds us this grounding also allows us to comprehend God’s full love. Without proper grounding in God’s love, we cannot appreciate God overwhelming goodness. The incredible fact is that the more you are grounded in his love, the more you are able to comprehend, thus creating a greater desire to know and love him more. Dig deeper. Love hard. Witness the majesty of God.

Captivated and Captured

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 3:1-13 (day two)

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles – vs. 1

Paul experienced captivity in both a literal and figurative sense. He was held in chains for his bold preaching and unwavering message of the gospel, and Jesus had captured his heart to this purpose. Because of Jesus, Paul was turned around in a manner that was truly jarring to those who knew him, or knew of him before the Damascus Road encounter. His encounter with Jesus was so transformative he was willing to change everything to focus on the Savior. How captured and captivated by Jesus are we? What does radical transformation look like in the church? Paul clearly understood his assignment to make the message of the cross available to everyone. If Paul was willing to surrender everything; if he was willing to endure incarceration; if he was willing to re-think how to treat and love others, what are we being called to do?

Unworth

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 2:19-22 (day two) So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, vs. 19

Unworthiness may be one of the toughest hurdles to overcome when considering trusting Jesus. When we come to the place of examining our lives before the majesty of Jesus, who are we that he would consider us fellow citizens? What do we bring? How are we made worthy? Only through the cross, only through Jesus’s sacrifice is any of this possible. We must reconcile that we are not worthy, and any impostor syndrome we may experience is justified, until we understand God’s intent to make us co-heirs with Christ. It is a feeling that I wish would go away the longer I walk with the Lord, but it is a truth I must struggle with every day. I am unworthy, but he is faithful. Don’t let your sense of self-unworth determine your value in the Lord.

Workmanship

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 2:8-10 (day two)

For we are His workmanship vs. 10a

I live in a household of crafters. If that sounds like the beginning of some sort of support group meeting, well so be it. As my girls have grown there is no such thing as unwanted cardboard, ribbon, boxes, or bags. All will receive a second, third, or infinite number of lives in new shapes and forms. Indeed, there is no limit to what your average Amazon delivery box can become in the hands of my daughters. When I see these “new creations” I marvel at how they can see the potential in cardboard. I have witnessed robots, record players, cars of various sizes and designs emerge from what I consider recycle bin fodder. Yet they see something that no one else can. They pour themselves into the creation, giving of themselves along the way to craft a wondrous new thing. This is their workmanship.

God does nothing less, and infinitely more with each of us. We are shaped and formed by him to be the creation that he intends. One that has purpose and hope in the Kingdom of God. We bear the marks of his workmanship, and each of us can look at who we are in Christ and recognize his design.

Those pieces of cardboard are loved and cherished by my girls, how much more are you loved by Jesus?

Hearts Eyes

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 1:15-23 (day two) I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. vs. 18-19a

Language like this always makes me stop and think about the wordplay being used. Paul says ‘the eyes of my heart.’ Was first century anatomy that bad? Not likely. This kind of figurative language, is first, the Lord is bigger than our words. To try and fully capture the wonder of his grace would exhaust the lexicon. It also gives an opportunity to unpack the imagination. To think that the heart would be able to see and discern good and evil is an incredible picture. It also reminds us making decisions based on what we see alone is problematic. God has created us with minds, feelings, intuition, and he desires us to use all our faculties when seeking to know and follow him. May your hearts eyes be open the Lord today.

Inheritance

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 1:3-14 (day two) also we have obtained an inheritance vs. 11a

Have you been the recipient of an estate settlement or financial inheritance? Perhaps it was expected and well planned and communicated. Regardless, it was likely a blessing to have more without having “earned” it in the usual sense. Paul reminds us that the inheritance we receive when we are found in Christ is an eternal fountainhead. Many of us understand pensions, 401k accounts, and investments which will have a level of depreciation once distributed. This is not how salvation works. Through Christ we are inheriting eternity. This kind of lavish gift is attainable for everyone. This is also a distinction from most inheritance. There is no need to hoard or hide what we have freely received. The hope is that we make everyone aware of the freedom found in Christ Jesus.

Image

Re:Verse passage – Colossians 1:15-24 (day two) Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. Vs. 24

It has been a joy to consider what it means to bear the image of God during this summer’s study. As we read this week’s passage, notice how many ‘body’ words are included: mind, flesh, body. Paul understood not just the metaphor of the body of Christ, but also the need to surrender everything we have to Kingdom purpose. If Christ is before all things and holds all things together, then we do well to recognize that is more than an institutional catchphrase, it is a reminder that we his handiwork. The image of God was not intended to be hidden, but displayed, celebrated, and shared. May we never tire of helping others to see how they were made to do the same.

Renew

Re:Verse passage – Romans 12:1-2 (day two)

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. ²And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

If we can agree that God’s will is perfect, our quest should be to discern what that will is for our lives. Inevitably we must ask the question; how can I know God’s will? Paul is clear that our sanctification is a whole person endeavor. We are to take care of our body. What we put into it, what we do with it, how we care for it; all these things matter. To know God’s will, is to order our minds toward the things of God. We are called to renew, to refresh, to give live to our way of thinking. God’s Word will always be a challenge to our way of thinking, and we must take care to let it shape and refine us into who he wants us to be, not what we think we should be. Make this a priority as you consider what God’s will for your life should be.

Speak Up

Re:Verse passage – Proverbs 31:8 (day two)

Open your mouth for the mute,
For the rights of all the unfortunate.

Isaiah 58:1-9 is the text I referenced on yesterday’s Re:Vlog, and I think of it often in regards to how we are called to be salt and light to the world. This is such a wonderful partner text to the FBCSA theme this year ‘Love Your Neighbor.’ Jesus also spoke about how we care for others who have less than we. Our obligation is to share. We share the gospel best when we share what we have first. Our willingness to give from a place of abundance and love is a step in showing how much we care for others. Our ability to speak for others who don’t have a voice is using our voice well. Are you willing to speak for others?

You Wove Me

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 139:13-16 pt. 2 (day two)

You wove me in my mother’s womb. Vs. 13b

Does anyone tat anymore? My maternal grandmother was amazing at this art. There wasn’t a place in her house that you wouldn’t see examples of her work, either finished or in process. She was forever tatting. I look at these pieces now and wonder how it’s even possible. It looks so fussy and difficult, but elegant and beautiful at the same time. I was thinking of that process when I re-read Psalm 139 this morning. Every fiber of your being was woven with a degree of care that is incomprehensible. Your life matters. If we are going to truly study what it means to made in the image of God, we must start from the beginning. As I look at those examples of lace doilies, I see my grandmother’s work and love. As you look into the eyes of a child, a stranger, and especially yourself, remember the Lord was intimately involved in shaping you. Make sure to take note of his handiwork and love.