Faithfully Yours Forever

Passage: Ephesians 1:1-10
Verse: Ephesians 1:7-9 (NIV 2011)
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,

Do you remember how special you felt when you were chosen for something?  Maybe it was for an award or maybe to be a part of someone’s team.  Well, we have been chosen by God to be a part of His team… to be set apart and to be holy and blameless in his sight.  According to His pleasure, will, and love, through Jesus Christ, we became heirs with Christ.  May we understand the will of the Father.  May we be obedient to those things He has called us to.  May we feel the love He has for us.  May we remember to thank Him for thinking of us and for choosing us.  Be blessed today. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: Colossians 1:24-2:5
Verse: Colossians 2:2 (NIV 2011)
My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ….

I do not know anyone that particularly likes to suffer.  I do, however, know many people, including myself, who have grown closer to God through suffering.  In this passage of Scripture, the apostle Paul is writing to the Colossian church.  While he speaks of the suffering he has endured for the body of Christ… which is the church, he also speaks of the glorious riches of this mystery [the word of God], which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.  It is hard to describe the glorious riches we experience through our relationship with God, but we must try.  Those we seek to reach for Christ need to see, or sense, how these glorious riches have changed our lives for the good… is spite of what otherwise might be seen as suffering.  May we experience His glorious riches.  May we genuinely communicate to others how those glorious riches have encouraged us and filled our lives in positive ways.  May we, in love, be able to share the full riches… and the mystery of God, namely, Christ with those around us.  Have a blessed day.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: Colossians 1:15-23
Verse: Colossians 1:22-23a (NIV 2011)
But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.

We have read about how we have been reconciled to God through Christ in an earlier passage of Scripture… and in this one too.  As believers, we know that it is through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice upon the cross for us that we, when all is said and done, will stand before God without blemish and free from accusation.  Oh, how Jesus loves us!  However, we must not forget that we must continue in [our] faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.  May we truly believe in the sacrifice that Christ made for us upon the cross.  May our faith grow stronger with each day, in Christ, that passes.  May we stand firm in the faith, and for Jesus Christ.  May we find comfort in the hope we have, for eternity, through Christ. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: Ephesians 2:11-22
Verse: Ephesians 2:13 (NIV 2011)
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

This passage of Scripture speaks about the Jew and Gentile being reconciled to God through Jesus, the Christ.  We know that Jesus was a Jew.  We also know that God has a special place in His heart for the Israelites and their nation.  However, those who believe in and follow Jesus have been grafted into the nation of Israel.  Before accepting Christ as Lord and Savior, we were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  Jesus came to earth to reconcile both Jew and Gentile to God.  He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.  Praise God!  As Christians, we join Christ [as the chief cornerstone] as He builds His kingdom…His holy temple.  May we praise God for considering us worthy of His love and for including us in His family, His nation, His kingdom.  May we be at peace in Christ. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: Isaiah 42:1-9
Verse: Isaiah 42:6-7 (NIV 2011)

I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

Oh, to be a servant of the Lord!  In recent posts, we have been speaking about the covenant we have with the Lord, our God.  We are to be His servants.  While this can feel like an overwhelming burden, we can be reassured that He will guide, protect, and empower us to serve Him as He intends.  May we trust in Him and His ways.  He will uphold us.  May we seek to serve Him in all things.  He will delight in us.  May we receive His love, blessings, care, and guidance.  He is faithful. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: Genesis 1:27-31
Verse: Genesis 1:28 (NIV 2011)
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

We were created by God… in His image.  We learn about who God is by reading His Word, listening to the Holy Spirit, and by examining the life of Jesus as depicted in the Holy Scriptures.  Since the fall of mankind, back in the Garden of Eden, God has desired… and has made a way… for us to be restored into His image.  Part of this restoration involves responsible stewardship of His creation.  We have been given the power to rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground [v. 28b].  May we use that power wisely.  We have been instructed to be fruitful… increasing our numbers… which we certainly have done.  We have been given the stewardship responsibility for seed-bearing plants and fruit-bearing trees that will feed all of mankind and all of His creatures.  May we consider our responsibility to help sustain God’s creation.  May we act as responsible stewards to help feed the world and preserve all things that God has made.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: Psalm 24:1-10
Verse: Psalm 24:5 (NIV 2011)
They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior.

In remembering the covenant we have made to the Lord, our God, consider the promises made; He will be our God and we will be His people.  But what does it take to be His people?  This passage sheds light upon that question.  Verse 4 states that the one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god may ascend the mountain of the Lord.  But how will the Lord, our God, show us that we are His people?  Again look to the Scriptures.  In verse 5 it states that His people will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior.

We often see the psalms being set to music.  We often hear choruses being sung based on the psalms.  Can you hear it now?  Repeat after me [v.7-8]:

Lift up your heads, you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.

Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
the Lord mighty in battle.

May we open up the doors of our hearts and let the King of glory come in.  Enjoy this blessed day!
(inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: Proverbs 11:23-31
Verse: Proverbs 11:25 (NIV 2011)
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed

The book of Proverbs seems to contain many practical and spiritual truths.  These truths may be honoring of those who choose to do good things… or condemning of those who choose to do harm to others.  Our God is a just God.  He will reward the righteous and punish the wicked.  In a letter to the Philippians, Paul urged them to be gentle, at peace, and to guard their hearts and minds.  Sometime we tend to focus upon negative things, but in Philippians 4:8 it states whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.  In Proverbs 11 we are reminded, and I choose to think on:

• The desire of the righteous ends only in good…
• One person gives freely, yet gains even more…
• A generous person will prosper…
• People… pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell needed goods to others
• Whoever seeks good finds favor…
• The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.

May we be able to apply these truths to our daily lives.  As we do the will of the Father, as we follow Jesus, and as we are guided by the Holy Spirit, may we prosper and be refreshed.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: Ephesians 4:1-13
Verse: Ephesians 4:13 (NIV 2011)
… until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Is there someone that you know or work with that you wonder if you will ever be able to really get along with?  This passage of Scripture has some helpful reminders for us to consider when we find ourselves in the type of situation described earlier.  We are to remember that there is one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God, and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all [v. 4-6].  We need to be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love [v. 2].  We need to be of one mind and at peace with each other.  This state can be very difficult to attain and draining to maintain.  However, we also learn that we have been given sufficient grace to fulfill God’s purposes.  Even so, we may also wonder how long we are to keep this up?  We are told to continue in our work for the Lord until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ [v. 13].  I think we probably know what that means – until the Lord takes us home to be with Him.  May we be faithful to the calling we have received.  May we look to the Holy Spirit to equip and sustain us until our work here is done. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: Galatians 5:13-26
Verse: Galatians 5:13b (NIV 2011)
But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

Have you ever heard the expression of calling a spade a spade?  Today’s passage does just that; it speaks honestly and directly on topics that are often avoided.  We have been given, by God, the freedom to choose to be in a relationship with Him or not.  If we desire a relationship with Him, we are to live and walk by the Spirit.  We are not (to) use (our) freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.  The acts of the flesh [we are to avoid] are obvious:

sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like [v. 19-21].

Denying the desire to indulge in fleshly things will not help us to gain power over them.  We need to acknowledge any desires related to these things, before Christ, and turn away from them, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  The fruit of the Spirit are equally as obvious in this passage.  They are:

love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control [v. 22-23].

May we remember, and claim the promise, that those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  In addition, since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit and love (our) neighbor as (ourselves) [v. 25 & v. 15].  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)