Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 2:11-22 (day six)
“For through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.” (v 18)
Paul’s vision for peace is Spiritual. Not something that comes to nations or families or churches by our own efforts. As people move into the Father’s presence (access) via the Spirit, they discover a deep solidarity with others who have done the same. Peace is a marvelous byproduct of walking in the Spirit. It is good news for a world torn by division and animosity. Later, Paul calls this “the unity of the Spirit”. He urges us to guard this precious gift from God. (see 4:3) “Father make them one”, Jesus said in John 17 on the night of His arrest, “that the world may believe.” As we walk in the Spirit, we come to know the Father. As we come to know the Father, we experience unity. As we live in unity, the world believes in Christ. Spirit, anyone? Unity?
Tag: Jesus
Temple Building
Re: Verse reading – Ephesians 2:11-22 (day two)
“In him the whole building in joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which god lives by his Spirit” (vs. 21-22).
This is an incredible metaphor that creates a marvelous picture of how we all fit together in the unity of faith. Imagine this as a real structure, Jesus is the chief cornerstone (vs. 20) and those who have joined in this legacy of faith have helped to construct this temple in which God will reside. Each of us, with our unique gifts and backgrounds are knit together to create the Church. Unity doesn’t always mean SAME, it means together. God knows what he is doing, we don’t look the same, talk the same way, prefer the same things, but we all have the same God who uses that uniqueness to create his beautiful Temple.
Describing salvation
Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 2:1-10 (day 6)
“God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ. . .and raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms.” (v 4-6)
If you were asked to describe the taste of chocolate, could you? What if someone asked you to describe salvation? The scripture struggles to find adequate metaphors and words for such an assignment. In John 3, Jesus compared salvation to physical birth. We must be “born again”. In Ephesians 2, Paul describes our experience in terms of Christ’s resurrection and ascension. With the Lord, we are “made alive and raised up and seated in heavenly places”. A few verses later, Paul likens salvation to “creation” in Genesis 1. ( v 10) All of these descriptions are inspired by the Spirit of Christ and, therefore, reliably true. Each, however, is only a part of the full description of what God does for those who trust Christ. “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”–2 Corinthians 9:15.
Human
Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 2:1-10 (day three)
“God raised us up with Christ.” When God raised Jesus from the dead, he did not raise a ghost, or a zombie, or a metaphor. He raised a human being—a divine human being, to be sure, but a human being nonetheless. That was new. God’s power had raised the dead before, but never to life everlasting in a renewed physical body. There is now a way for human beings to live as human beings—that is, beings with both a physical body and a spirit—forever. Jesus was the first. And because God the Son lives forever as a resurrected human being, so can all of us who count on Christ. When God raised Jesus, he raised the possibility of eternal life for the entire human race.
Wrath to Riches
Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 2:1-10 (day two)
The story of the Gospel has been one of incongruous logic. Think about it: rich shall be poor, the meek will inherit, the humble exalted, the last shall be first. It is further proof that God’s ways are not ours. We, who were not only dead in sin, but also objects of his wrath, are also objects of the riches of his mercy. Isn’t grace amazing? How could we possibly go from not being able to escape his wrath to riches without earning it? How could we who were all dead in sin, be brought to fullness? This is the grace and mercy of the blood of Jesus. Unmerited favor indeed.
“The things which are”
Re: Verse reading–Isaiah 6:1-8; Revelation 4:1-11 (day six)
In the last book of the Bible, Jesus shows John the Apostle “the things which are, and the things which shall take place”—Revelation 1:19. It is a revelation, a God-given insight into invisible and eternal reality. There are many instances in Scripture of this same grace. Isaiah’s vision of God in Isaiah 6. Ezekiel’s visions (many). Even Paul’s encounter with the Risen Christ on the road to Damascus falls into this category (Acts 9). When God opens our eyes to “see” hidden realities, it is called a vision. No wonder that Paul later writes to the Ephesians, “I pray that the eyes of your heart will be enlightened”—Ephesians 2:18. Understandably, visions come to us with compelling power. “I was not disobedient to this heavenly vision”—Acts 26:19. Not imaginary things, God is helping us see invisible realities, things more real and more urgent than any we see or touch with physical senses. God is revealing “the things which are.”
God is patient
Re: Verse reading – Psalm 103, Luke 17:11-19 (day six)
“Go show yourselves to the priests.” (Luke 17:14)
God is patient. Thank God! Those of us who fail Him need this good news. The 10 Leper story proves the point. Even after months of Jewish resistance, Jesus is STILL SEEKING for ways to communicate His message in ways that Jews could understand and accept. He is bending over backwards. In compliance with Leviticus 14:1-32, Jesus sends the soon-to-be-healed men to the priests whose assignment was to certify actual cases of healing. Jesus hoped the priests would see the miracle and tell the story. It was not to be. Neither the Jewish lepers nor the Jewish nation were willing to imagine a God different from their prejudices. Strange, noted Jesus, that the Samaritan who had no training or history with scripture was more responsive to truth than those who had “grown up with it”. Sad. Sometimes to have truth too long is to take it for granted. Us?
Do you believe…
Re: Verse reading–Psalm 103, Luke 17:11-19 (day five)
Do you believe that Jesus was the most “joy-filled” person who ever walked this planet? Do we want to have that kind of “joy-filled” life? If the answers are yes, then we must look at how He lived and what He taught. It’s really what we’ve been doing all summer- studying the hows and whats. Jesus certainly taught about thanksgiving and gratitude (Luke 17). And He faithfully practiced it (Last supper, feeding of 5,000, raising of Lazarus, and many more times) There is a connection to a thankful heart and joy-filled life. We need look no further than our Lord for proof and practice. I read this week that Thanksgiving is a “confession of blessings”. This practice causes us to remember (past), rejoice (present), and regain an eternal perspective (look to the future).
Talented people
Re: Verse reading–Deuteronomy 8:10-18; Matthew 25:14-30 (day one)
“A man going on a journey. . .called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent.” (Matthew 25:14-15) Our English word actually comes from this story. In the time of Christ, a talent was a coin or weight of measure. As the gospel spread through the world (and we praise God for it’s gradual, powerful influence) talent came to mean a God-given ability or skill. There are no untalented people! That is what Jesus would say. Some receive many gifts. Others few. All some. “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:7) The important point is that we all owe the Giver effective use of His gifts. Money, time, family, freedom, health, opportunities, skill, education, creativity, mentors. . .What has God given you? What will you employ in His kingdom service?
Shelter and shadow
Re: Verse reading–Mark 10:35-45; John 13:12-17; James 2:14-17 (day seven)
“He who dwells in the SHELTER of the Most High will abide in the SHADOW of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1)
“If you know these things, you will be BLESSED if you do them.” (John 13:17)
Jesus calls us to a life of blessing. What He commands of us is difficult, no argument, but very beneficial. His formula for abundant life. In the ancient world a shadow was a good thing, a cool, protected place to stand in the desert heat. Jesus promises this cool blessing to all who surrender to His life and example. It is not enough to know what He teaches. We must do what He teaches. We must deny self and ego and begin to serve others. Those who do so begin to experience the results that are promised to the children of God. Do you desire to live in the shelter and shadow of the Almighty? Believe and begin today!