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
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
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