GROW UP INTO HIM

[18]

LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES - Ephesians

Read Ephesians 4

      "...Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching... Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ."    Ephesians 4:14-15 NIV

* * *

     In this passage, Paul is reminding the Ephesian Christians of the primary purpose of the local church. Each member of the body of Christ has been given spiritual gifts or talents to be used for a specific reason – the edifying and building up of believers.

     This was and is an ongoing process where we grow in our faith "and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" (4:13b) and it is not something we do by ourselves, but in fellowship with other believers. Each person has something unique to contribute "to the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament," (which) "grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." (4:1)

* * *

     Lord, I pray that you will show each one of us what part we are to play in your plan for our church. Help me to use the talents you have given me for the purpose of building up other believers in their faith. I pray also for the unity of our local church so that we can work together to send forth the gospel and disciple new believers onto maturity.

* * *

     "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Ephesians 4:2-3 NIV

CHOSEN IN HIM

[17]

LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES - Ephesians

Read Ephesians 1–3

…He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love… to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:4, 6 NKJV

* * *

     Paul in writing to the believers in Ephesus reminds them of the wonderful gift of the gospel. “But now in Christ Jesus,” he says, “you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (2:13)
     In the fullness of time, God carried out His plan that the Gentiles would be included in His church. For both Jews and Gentiles salvation came by the grace of God as a free gift.
    " For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."   (2:8-10)

* * *

     Lord, I will be eternally thankful that You offered salvation to all who would believe. I am grateful that I did not have to earn it by good works. I am also thankful that you had good works planned for me before I even knew You. Help me as I share the good news of Christ’s love with all who will be willing to receive it.

* * *

     “...that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height -- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.    Eph 3:17b-19 NKJV

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

[16]

LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES - Galations

Read Galatians 5─6

     For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.  Galatians 5:13 NKJV

* * *

     There were those in the Galatian church who insisted that Gentile believers must become Jews and keep the ceremonial laws. Paul writes, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.” (Galatians 1:6-7)
     He then goes on to explain the role of the law in the lives of New Testament believers: “...the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.” (Galatians 3:24-25) They were to defend the true gospel in a spirit of love; For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14

* * *

     Lord, when I run into Christians who are influenced by false teaching, help me to be patient and kind, exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit in my life and attitude. Give me the wisdom to stand fast and defend the gospel in a way that will glorify You.

* * *

     But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.   Galatians 5:22-23a NKJV

JARS OF CLAY

LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES - Corinthians

Read 2 Corinthians 4-5

     Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!  2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

* * *

     In this letter Paul encourages the Corinthian church to endure in their trials. He said of himself and his companions, “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death.” (2 Corinthians 1:8b-9a)

     Though they themselves were “jars of clay”, he said, they endured because of the all surpassing power of God. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day...” (4:16)

     In view of eternity and what Christ accomplished for us on the cross, Paul reminds them and us, “...he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again” (5:15)

* * *

     Lord, I will probably never face the kind of opposition that Paul and the early church had to face, but I know that there are Christians throughout the world who are being persecuted. Lord, show your all-surpassing power to them, and help me to remember that I too have access to this power in my life through your Holy Spirit.

* * *

     "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us..."   2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV

NO MORE DEATH

[14]

Read 1 Corinthians 15

     For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.  1 Corinthians 15:22, 26 NIV

* * *

     One thing we all have to face is the reality of death. No matter how healthy we are, eventually it will catch up with us. By receiving the free gift Christ has purchased, we have the promise of eternal life, but we will see physical death in this body – unless of course, He returns in our lifetime.

     Paul writes, "Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed." (15:51-52)

     He assures us as believers, that when we die, we will immediately enter God's presence clothed with immortality, never to see death again. For when the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."(15:54)

* * *

     Lord, thank you for the promise that death is not the end. I can look forward to seeing my loved ones who are already in Heaven and will spend eternity praising You for all You have done for us in this life and the one to come.

* * *

     Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.    1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV

THOUGHTS FOR THE NEW YEAR

     Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.  1 Corinthians 2:12

* * *

     So here we are, well on our way into 2011. I can’t believe that I wrote the first installment to THE GOD WHO SEES ME – A Devotional Prayer Journal in August of 2007. Along the way to this blogging outreach, I have enjoyed various ministries, but never have I felt a stronger leading from the Lord than with this online journal.

     The urge to write came during a particularly dry period when I was praying for the filling of the Holy Spirit in my life, especially in regard to ministry. Only 5 days after praying that specific prayer, I wrote in my personal journal that I thought I might start a Through-the-Bible series of devotions. This was initially for my own spiritual growth, but soon I wanted to share it with others. I began with a small e-mail list of friends and family which grew larger as time went by. Eventually, by March of 2008 I was posting online, beginning with Genesis 1:1, “In the Beginning God…”

     Now after posting readings appropriate for Christmas, I will be continuing with the letters to the church at Corinth where we left off in November. My plan this year is to link the Bible references to the BlueLetterBible.org online Bible. This will make it easier to read the entire context of the Scriptures that I quote in the post. I hope this will be helpful for those who don’t have a Bible handy to look up the reference.

* * *

     Dear Lord, I pray that my readers will be encouraged to spend time in Your Word this year. I pray that my brief devotional thoughts will help others to apply these Scripture readings to their own life situations. For those who are still seeking to know the truth, draw them by your Holy Spirit to an understanding of who You are and what You have done for them. In Jesus name, Amen

* * *

     “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”  1 Corinthians 2:9