Come Boldly to the Father

Scripture-
This was in accordance to the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in Whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.  Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are for your glory.

Observation-
God's eternal purpose has been carried out in Christ.
In Christ we can come boldly and confidently to God- we have been given access to the Almighty!
Paul does not want the Ephesians to lose heart- he reminds them again that his suffering, his imprisonment is in accordance with God's will- even in prison his life is meant for their glory, for their good.

Application-
Everything we have read leads us up to this point-in Christ we have bold and confident access to the Father.
What keeps me away?  Do I think I am too wretched?  Have I spent too much time going my own way?  Simple faith in Jesus has granted me access- I am a new person, even though I still struggle with sin everyday, God says, come.  Come.  There should be no fear.  Come boldly, come confidently, because I belong to God. He has poured out the riches of His grace on me.  Is there anything that I cannot bring to Him? Absolutely not! I am reminded of a time when Jesus asked the twelve disciples what they were thinking.
"From there they went out and began to go through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know about it.  For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, 'The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later.'  But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.  They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, he began to question them, 'What were you discussing on the way?'  But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest.  Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, 'If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last and servant of all."  Mark 9:30-35, NASB
The disciples were afraid to ask. We do not need to be afraid.  Through Jesus we get to come boldly and confidently.  That is the application I am going to make for my Mary heart.

Be Blessed,
Deb

The Unfathomable Riches of Christ

Scripture-
For me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what was the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

Observations-
Paul acknowledges that his ministry is only by the grace of God.  He knew what He was when God called Him, he did not hide from his past, but rather celebrated that it proved that God's grace is beyond measure if it could even take someone like him and give him a ministry, a message to share from God Himself. Humility.
Unfathomable-the riches of Christ-immeasurable, impossible to truly comprehend.

Mystery- Paul uses this word in Ephesians more than in any other book.  This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs- not an earth shattering pronouncement for us today, but for the Jew of Paul's day I can only imagine how hard this was to accept- to believe.  Their whole lives they were set apart from the rest of the nations, to be a Gentile was an awful state, one to be pitied, a people to be avoided, and now they are to share their heritage with these outcasts- the unclean people of the world?  How can it be?!!!

The Gospel is not only being made known to us- but through the church it is also being revealed to the the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places!  What?!  Amazing thought!
1 Peter 1:12- Angels long to look into the things that are being preached by the apostles (My rendering)
1 Corinthians 4:9- the apostles became a spectacle to the whole world, both to angels and to men.
The angels are watching- they are watching how we live our lives, listening to what we have to say, learning about the mystery of the Gospel that was even hidden from them.

Application-

Humility, all that I am I owe to Christ.  All that I am called to do is given me from God.  Everything I have, every gift, every talent, every purpose- they all come from God.  Remember that fact and do not become self-absorbed or think more of myself than I ought.
When I searched for an image to represent "unfathomable riches" this is what came up--an image of  foot washing.  It made me think about what Jesus did for the disciples that night so long ago, what He did with His unfathomable riches.  This is what we are to do with those unfathomable riches- become the servants of all.


Be Blessed,
Deb

What's in a Name?

Ephesians 3:14-15, NASB
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name


What's in a name?  Who am I?  These verses say very clearly that I am a child of God.  My name, that by which I am identified derives from God the Father; I obtain it from God.  When people ask me who I am, what do I answer?

Something to think about,
Deb

A Radical Thought

Ephesians 3:4-7, NASB
By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;  to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel, of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God's grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.


The Spirit has made known to Paul, and so to us, that we are all fellow heirs with Israel, fellow members of the body of Christ, and fellow partakers of the promise- everlasting life.  All who are in Christ, Jew or Gentile, are heaven-bound.  Pretty radical thinking for the time and it stirred up a lot of trouble for Paul.  In today's language, "That's crazy talk!"  The Jews were a people set apart as holy to the LORD, how can Paul say that the Gentiles are now fellow heirs, they are the same, a holy people set apart?  As a Gentile, all I know is that I am so glad that this was part of God's plan- that I am part of God's plan.

Paul ends these verses acknowledging that it is not by anything he has done, but rather all because of God's mighty power at work in him that he has received grace to be a minister of the Gospel.  Likewise, everything I have, everything, is a gift from God and comes to me out of the wonderful gift of His grace.  How then should I live?  In a manner worthy.  That is a manner that I work out daily with God as I read and study His word.  2 Peter 1:3 states that (God's) divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. (NIV)   I firmly believe that a large part of that knowledge is revealed to us in the Scriptures and that we would do well to spend time reading and meditating upon them.

 Be Blessed,
Deb

A Prisoner of Christ

Ephesians 3:1-3, NASB
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles--if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace which was given to me for you; that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote in brief.

Paul was a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of the Gentiles- people like me, those who were once "far off." How interesting that he did not say he was a prisoner of Rome- which he was at the time- but a prisoner of Christ Jesus.  Everything that happened to him happened in order that it would benefit the Gentiles, by this statement Paul conveys that Jesus is in control of his fate, not Rome- they are really inconsequential in the scheme of things.  It seems contradictory to say this, but what freedom there is for us if we are "prisoners of Christ." There are a lot of things going on in my world, things that often seem out of my control, but nothing is out of God's control.  Will I be a prisoner to those other things?  Or, like Paul, will I be a prisoner of Christ?

Paul was also a steward of God's grace to the Gentiles.  Webster's defines stewardship as, "the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care."  God had given Paul something precious that he was to share.  I too have been entrusted with something- the Good News.  This is not something I should take lightly or ignore.  I need to share that Good News with people.  I have a responsibility even to share that news.  Would my attitude be different if I really looked at each person as someone whose life is at risk if I do not speak up with the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  Would I be more apt to share if I feared God more then man?  What would a prisoner of Christ do?

I must confess that I have not been a very good steward of that which God has entrusted to me.  I can be so lazy and foolish and far too often fear what others might think of me far more that what God thinks of me.
There is a valid point that we need to live lives that shine for Jesus, that make people want to have what we have. I am challenged by these verses to be more active in taking the next step- in risking offending in order to save.  What difference does it make if they notice I am different if I never share why; I never tell them how my life is changed, how my future is secure because I have accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior.


Be blessed,
Deb

A Matter of the Heart

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. -Ephesians 1:18-19, NASB

I tend to be a rather fearful, timid person. I am definitely lacking in the self-confidence area.  These verses are for people like me.  People who need to be reminded about who we are and who we belong to.

I find it interesting that Paul prays for the enlightenment of our hearts.  Not our minds, but our hearts.  It makes me think of that verse, "for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks," or as the NASB says, "for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart."  (Luke 6:45b)  I think that with our minds we store knowledge but it is in our hearts that wisdom grows.  It is in my heart where fear starts to grip me.  When I let that fear have reign, when I let it drive my decisions, I make choices that keep me from being the woman God wants me to be.  Imagine how different my heart would look if instead of all those fears and doubts it was flooded with an understanding of the greatness of God's power.  Imagine what a different course my life could take if I met each day confident of who I was in Christ rather than feeling like I have little worth.

This is a work that must be done from the inside out.  It is exciting to think about.  It might even lead a very shy, insecure person like me to step out and lead a Bible study.  (And that is exactly what I have done.)

Be blessed,
Deb

Faith and Love

"For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists in you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of  Him." (Eph. 1:15-17, NASB)

Paul had heard of the faith of these saints in Ephesus.  I just read in Matthew this morning how disappointed Jesus was in the lack of faith exhibited by the disciples.  He tells them in Matthew 17:20 (NLT), “You don’t have enough faith, I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move.  Nothing would be impossible.”
I wonder what their faith must have been like.  Were the saints at Ephesus mountain movers?  I sometimes wonder if my lack of faith hinders the work God wants to do.  Do I really believe that nothing is impossible with God?  And if such a small amount of faith can allow God to move mountains than what would happen if I begin right now to ask God to increase my faith?

There was another aspect of the Ephesians that Paul commended them for; their love for one another.  That is something that is supposed to set us apart as followers of Christ.  They will know us by our love.  We have the supreme example in Christ's sacrifice for us-For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.  I am challenged by that thought.  If I really want my life to be a reflection of God, than love for others has got to be a driving force in my life.  Rather convicting to think about how many times I am unwilling to lay down my life for others.  Not as in actually sacrificing my physical existence, but in placing others ahead of myself.  Dropping my goals for the day, my "best laid plans" to love on those who cross my path.  In my rush to get through the checkout line do I stop to think what even a smile could do for the others in line, for the harried cashier?  Do I have the right attitude when I am doing the laundry and cleaning toilets for my family?  Am I willing to rearrange my day, with a joyful heart, when someone calls on me for help, or to talk?  Am I willing to take time out of my day to pray for others in earnest?

In my ever growing desire to learn how to pray I have here a wonderful model of how to pray for the believer's in my life, and myself as well.   Above all else we need a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.  We need God to continually reveal Himself to us so that we can grow in our knowledge of Him.  Do you want to know God more?  Then pray for Him to reveal Himself to you and He will do it.


Be Blessed,
Deb

Ephesians 1:13-14

"In Him, you also after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, Who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. "(Ephesians 1: 13-14, NASB)

 Amazing.  I had never really given much thought to this blessing before; never even noticed it.  I am blessed to be sealed.  Oh, what does that mean?!  Paul says I was sealed the moment I believed.  Believed what? The Gospel, the Good News, the Message of Truth.  I had to do more than just hear those words.  I had to do more than think they were just a good story.  I had to do more than think that Jesus was a good man whose life I would do well to study and try to learn from.  I had to believe that everything I heard about Jesus was true.  I had believe that I was a sinner destined to die.  I had to believe that Jesus paid the price for my sins when He willingly died for me on the cross of Calvary.  I had to believe that He rose again from the grave.  I had to believe that He is God and did all of this for me so that I would have eternal life. 

In God’s great plan He sealed me with the Holy Spirit of promise.  

I like the image of the king’s seal.  A seal of wax was placed over a letter, sealing it until it was delivered to the right person.  That seal would bear the mark of the king.  It belonged to him and was not to be tampered with.  Once the letter reached its destination the seal was broken.  I have been similarly sealed.  Sealed with the Holy Spirit, sealed with God’s own mark.  Until I reach my destination- until that day I step into the glorious presence of Almighty God—there is nothing anyone can do to change my course.  That seal represents my security and God’s authority over me.  What a wonderful thought.  

The Holy Spirit is also given to me as a  promise, a pledge, a down-payment.  The Holy Spirit is God's good faith statement that says He intends to go through with the purchase.  Oh the riches of His grace.  When I consider what it means that I have the Holy Spirit, God Himself residing in me- what an incredible treasure!