Riches

Scripture: Ephesians 1:7 "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sin, according to the riches of His grace,"

Observation: Again, identity: redemption, redeemed, His possession. Everything that Paul has said to this point is summed up in this phrase "according to the riches of His grace."

"For by grace you have been saved,... " (2:8); "to the praise of the glory of His grace" (1:6); "the dispensation of the grace of the of God" (3:2); "work, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt" (Romans 4:4); being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24).

Application: An understanding of God's grace is important, and actually it is indispensable, to living a godly life. Lack of knowledge and application of God's grace leads to legalism, hardness, judging, criticism, impatience, anger and hypocrisy. Remembering and applying the grace of God toward me should emphasize the grace  I should be showing to others. God's grace should result in my joy!

Prayer: I desperately need your help to be loving to others. Not just in a way that does not offend, but that intentionally seeks to serve and bless those around me. I forget how much grace you have shown me, how forgiving you've been and what blessings, gifts, and love you have showered on me - all so undeservedly. Please help me to show that same grace to those around me.

All for One

Scripture: Ephesians 1:6 "to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the beloved."

Application: There are so many glories of God. It would be good to study out the forms of God's glory mentioned in the Word. Here it is the glory of God's grace, and here Paul is following the previous verse which reminds me of what God intended in the beginning - our salvation and adoption. Paul couldn't say that without also pointing to the amazing grace of God. So he says, "to the praise of the glory of His grace..."

Then Paul continues to tell the Ephesians of their identity and position. First the blessings are spiritual in nature and in heaven; then God desires us to be holy people; next - children of God; now we are part of the "beloved" - the union, family, church of believers which are loved by God.

Application: Further emphasis on my identity in Christ. This is another verse challenging the way I think of myself and what I put my time and energy toward. "Act like the citizen of the country which you are a citizen of."

Prayer: God, please transform my mind. I need Your mind on my day. You have so many awesome plans for my life which will ultimately bring You glory. Please help me to remember to praise You for all that happens on a daily and moment-by-moment basis.

That's the Plan

Scripture: Ephesians 1:5 "having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will."

Observation: Again I see that God worked through Jesus; everything that God has done has been "through Jesus" from the creation to salvation to the gifts of grace. Christ is indeed the mediator and the High Priest. He became the gifts from 1 Corinthians 1:30. Through Jesus we were raised to heaven, forgiven and through Jesus' life we now live and have power to overcome. My life is truly all about Jesus.

Also, what an amazing revelation - aweseome knowledge - God has adopted us as children and that God intended to do it from the beginning (Ephesians 1:4).

Ultimately, God is soveriegn as the last portion of the verse describes. God has a will that always becomes a reality. He will bring it to pass. He cannot be stopped. So what is His will for my life today?

Application: Adjust my thoughts to be based on my true identity through Christ. Adjust my thoughts about other believers and the fact that God has an awesome will for their life as well.

Prayer: You are so good to us, to me! Thank you. Please teach me to love as you do. There was nothing that drew You to me, except Your goodness. Please help me to see others in the way that You do. Help me to love others in the same way You do.

To Which We Were Called

Scripture: Ephesians 1:4 "just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love."

Observation: This verse reminds me of the need to respond to the grace of God toward me by seeking to live a holy life (as God defines it). God has given the commands and direction as to what it looks like. The key characteristics are holiness and love, which are too great for me to do without God's power and presence. This verse comes on the heels of the "great blessing" of verse 3 which is continued here by the reminder that I have been chosen by God without regard to my merit or worthiness.

Application: This requires me to pursue God with all my heart, similar to Psalm 119:10. Doing all I can to know Him is the catalyst which drives the rest of my life.

Prayer: Father, at this point I'm desperate for You spiritually. I'm missing the entire relationship at times. I'm mostly prayerless and I "talk" more than I "walk." Please help me, chasten me, guide me. Please make me aware of every area that I am not obeying Your command to love others. Please make me aware of You in all my coming and going. Please help me to take hold the promises that You have made me.

Don't Forget

It doesn't seem like it's been over 10 years since the September 11th attacks, but my line of work never really lets me forget that we have enemies (consisting of a list which includes some that rather surprise me) that are seeking to subvert our country's existance, steal our information, and break into our secure physical and cyber areas. 

However, I often don't think about those around me that don't work in a similar type of arena or that don't have access to the briefs and info that I do.  Consequently, I thought I would post a couple of open source stories that got little to no publicity.  Here they are for a couple of reasons:
(1) I think everyone in the U.S.A. that is not involved with security needs to be a little less ignorant of the threats around us. I think it's silly to assume that people would panic if they knew what the enemy was doing in our own backyard.  I don't see Israeli's or the Sudanese going wacky; they just make appropriate life-style changes for the threats that they live with.  America needs to live in the truth. 
(2) Those that are working in the endless, thankless (for the most part) jobs of protecting us from hidden and secretive threats, plots, and plans should be given some props.  Should we really ask after the fact, "Why did this (fill the blank) attack happen?" or should we ask "Why didn't those other ones come to pass?"

So if you have time please take in these short stories about what is happening all around us.  Don't be someone that sees suspicious activities and assumes that it's nothing.  Don't make yourself an easy choice for our enemies to exploit.

Two men living in Kentucky who were actively supplying our enemy with arms and participated in IED attachs in the Middle East.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/05/31/kentucky.iraqis.arrested/index.html?eref=rss_crime

This is over an extensive plot by some that worked at JFK to cause an insanely high explosion.
http://www.examiner.com/public-safety-in-national/imam-convicted-of-plotting-terrorist-attack-at-jfk-airport
 

I've Got It Good

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,"

Observation: Paul refers to God as the God of Jesus. This is a weird concept to me. I think of "the Father of Jesus" and "the Son of God," but not of Jesus having a God. I wonder what Paul is trying to emphasize with that statement.

"Every spiritual blessing" obviously means more than I know. I don't grasp the fullness of His blessings and the riches of the inheritance now. That understanding must be coming (in part) as part of my sanctification. But I should apply it now with knowledge of the promises that I have (Mark 4:24-25).

IMPORTANT - "in the heavenly places..." So are the spiritual blessings only residing in heaven (c.f. 1 Peter 1:3-4) or are they established in heaven first and made a realization in the physical? Maybe some spiritual blessings won't be realized here, or understood at least. Certainly we merely glimpse the glory, beauty, majesty of God and our relationship with Him now can't be even close to the intimacy we'll enjoy in eternal life. I suppose that's why Paul says that our spirit groans for release from this "tent."

"... in Christ." - there's that phrase again. Is it an identity things? What is practical about it? This phrase is so prevelent in the NT that there must be a significant purpose to it - there must be spiritual truth that should influence or effect everything  I do. I don't get it yet though.

Application: I need to keep the knowledge of my blessings and gifts from God in my mind throughout everyday. Those blessings (that are thus far understood) are the power from God to live a godly life.

Prayer: Father please teach me to be ever mindful of the benefits of my position and identity (two different things!) with you. There are people all around me that need the gospel and they need the light  which you've given me to shine. I also need to show your love to my family and the members of the body of Christ better. I need to live in the reality of those blessings. Thank you for blessing me as you have! Please help me not to be materialistic or shallow about the gifts, and to be abundantly satisfied with what I have in Christ. Please sanctify me! I grow weary of falling short of the "abundant life." Thank you for your grace and mercy which you have shown to me without any merit. Thank you for salvation. I love you. Amen.

SOAP: A Present For You

 

Scripture: Ephesians 1:2 "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

 

Observation: Romans 1:7 & 16:20,24; 1 Cor 1:3 & 16:23; 2 Cor 1:2 & 13:14; Gal 1:3 & 6:16,18; Eph 1:2 & 6:23,24; Philip 1:2 & 4:23; Col 1:2 & 4:18; 1 Th 1:1 & 5:23,28; 1 Tim 1:2 & 6:21; 2 Tim 1:2 & 4:22; Titus 1:4 & 3:15; Phile 1:3 & 1:25; Heb 13:25; 1 Pet 1:2 & 5:14; 2 Pet 1:2 & 3:18; 2 Jn 1:3; 3 Jn 1:14; Jude 2; Rev 1:4 & 22:21.

 

Almost every new testament letter began and ended with the exhortation to be aware of the grace, mercy and peace of God. Clearly these are to be defining attributes and influences of our daily lives.

 

Application: How is this moved from the theological to the practical? I should live as one under the grace of God, filled with His peace. These are given to me. These should then pour out from me that I can show them to others. But how hard is it? How often am I completely graceless toward others? Would others describe in that way? If not, then I am failing to reflect God's glory.

 

Prayer: Father, please help me to day to be aware of my freedom and complete justification before you. Help to have an awareness of it every second. Then please empower me, no live through me that I may be a display of your character, grace and peace to those around me. Amen.