Category: Bible

Who Am I?

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When I was in high school, society pushed teens to ask, “Who am I?”.  It was a big thing for us to “find ourselves”.  I fear we are seeing the effects of too many years of wanting our own identity.  Ephesians 2:10 tells us that those who trust in Jesus Christ are His workmanship.  Our purpose is good works.  Good works “which God prepared beforehand”.  Reading and studying the Bible as well as praying will help us understand those good works.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for making us Your workmanship.  Please help us to seek what You desire for good works. 

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

The Best Identity

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Those of us who have placed our trust in Jesus Christ have the best identity.  I fear we keep clinging to the identity we want to have instead of seeing what identity Christ offers.  Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that we have been saved by grace not by anything we have done.  The reason is so we will not boast about works. 

I think one of the hardest things we have to do is to let go of our personal identity.  In the U.S. we are so individualistic that we encourage living our own way.  Our wishes and desires get in the way of what God tells us. I am humbled by the reminder that I can’t do anything to earn my salvation.  Hopefully this pushes me to seek Christlike identity by reading, studying and obeying God’s Word.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the humbling reminder in Your Word that we cannot earn salvation.  Please help me to live this for Your honor and glory.  I want to serve You more.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Is Obedience Exciting?

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The book of Romans begins with the apostle Paul sharing who he is in Jesus Christ.  Identity is a big deal in society today. There is a lot of confusion and hurt surrounding this topic.  Some of that confusion has made its way into the church.  We want to find our identity in our looks, our jobs, or our personalities rather than our identity in Jesus Christ. 

Identity in Christ means giving up my own identity. It requires obedience. It points only to God and ignores me (John 3:30). I think in an individualistic society we want too much of ourselves. I wonder if we find individualism more exciting than obeying Christ.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the example of Paul. Please help us to obey for the sake of Your name.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Despite Our Sin

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Ephesians 2 starts out bleak.  It talks about how believers in Christ used to be dead in sin.  I’m thankful for verses 4-5 that talk about the amazing mercy of God.  Despite our sin, God provided a way through Jesus to give us life.  Now all we need to do is remember this truth as we live day to day life.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your mercy and grace.  Please help me to remember this truth and share this with others.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Immeasurable

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This verse tells us about one object of the immeasurable power of God.  As a believer, I have access to this power.  This passage doesn’t give a lot of specifics.  I know God does this on purpose.  I walk by faith (2 Cor. 5:7).  I don’t always get to see the specifics.  I simply need to ask God as Paul did to learn “what is the immeasurable greatness of His power”.  Knowing how great God is, this power is amazing.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving Your immeasurable power to those of us who believe.  Please help me to claim that power in humility that I might serve You better.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

What

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Ephesians 1 is loaded with expressions of God’s generosity.  I like verse 18 – as we follow what Ephesians 1 has been talking about we will have our “hearts enlightened”.  The “what” is the hope and riches that God promises.  I think sometimes we have the wrong kind of hope and the wrong kind of riches in mind.  God is more interested in the eternal and we end up getting stuck in the temporal.  My desire is to continue studying Scripture to learn about the “whats” in Ephesians 1:18. At least as much as is possible in this life.  I expect to learn by leaps and bounds in the next life.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the many blessings I can learn about from Your Word.  Please guide me as I learn the “what” You tell us about in this verse.  Help me to share this with others.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Feast or Famine

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I think as Americans we are used to having so much we don’t understand what “the riches of His grace” being lavished on us means.  There are times when according to our definition, we go through famine.  Material wise that might be true.  This passage tells us of the lavish grace that gives us forgiveness.  I wonder if we realize how big God’s forgiveness is.  He doesn’t owe us forgiveness, but He gives freely and generously – a feast. 

I am so thankful for God’s generosity.  I will receive His forgiveness every time I ask (1 John 1:9).

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for lavishing forgiveness on those You have chosen. I am comforted by Your generosity.  Please help me to keep the proper perspective on Your generous forgiveness.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

It’s NOT About Me

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Ephesians 1 tells us of wonderful gifts that God has given to those he has chosen.  I think we sometimes become selfish as a result of these gifts.  The point of the gifts is to point back to our precious Savior, Jesus Christ.

Dear Heavenly Father, please help us to use the gifts You have given to point others to You.  May You be honored because of Your glorious grace. 

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Chosen for Adoption

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The first blessing we see in Ephesians 1 is that of being chosen for adoption.  Looking at the culture in Israel during Bible times adoption is a great honor.  The first-born son would inherit everything.  God adopts us as first-born sons.  I’m not sure how well it translates into the American culture that I know so well.  In Bible culture this was a very high honor.  I want to allow that concept to warm my heart living in what is often a cold, dark (sin-cursed) world.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for choosing me to be an adopted child.  Thank You for the beauty of Your love.  Please help me to share this with those who know You chose them as well as those who have not learned of this wonderful gift.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Everything

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I appreciate how the book of Ephesians starts.  The praise to God is wonderful, but the reason for the praise catches my attention.  Those of us who have placed our trust in Christ have “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places”.  The rest of the chapter gives more specifics about what those blessings are.

I think we as believers fall into the trap of thinking we don’t have everything we need.  However, God has told us through His Word that we do have what we need.  2 Peter 1:3 reiterates that fact.  I look forward to studying the book of Ephesians (amongst other passages) this year to remind me what God has provided.

Dear Heavenly Father, I praise You for the many blessings You give so freely.  I ask for guidance as I study what You have given.  Please help me to share the truth with others.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.