Hiatus

In the daily is on hiatus. It is designed to accompany a message series, and we will announce when it will be active again. Until then, please feel free to look back at the study in James, and Ephesians, or the first few books of Proverbs. Proverbs is not complete but we will take it 5 to six books at a time as it lines up with our Bible Fellowship studies. Thank you for checking us out, and I look forward to our next season of daily devotionals.

Folly

Prov. 5:22 - 23 (NKJV)

22 His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, And he is caught in the cords of his sin.
23 He shall die for lack of instruction, And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.



Folly is not a word that is employed much today. It speaks to me of the silliness that can overtake our decisions if we allow ourselves to be entrapped by our own iniquities.

Ponders

Prov. 5:21 (NKJV)

For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, And He ponders all his paths.



God does nto just know our ways, He ponders and examines them. He is more than just a casual observer of the decisions of our lives. He cares deeply about the directions we choose and what we allow to motivate our decisions. Today I will make decisions conscious that God ponders my ways.

Rejoice

Prov. 5:18 (NKJV)

Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice with the wife of your youth.



How easy is it for us to go a while without really rejoicing with our spouse. Too often we take for granted the lifepartner that God has given us. We must be both strategic and intentional in our rejoicing. Here are some things to rejoice with your spouse:

1. Rejoice Eternal Life

2. Rejoice the family He has given you

3. Rejoice the home that He has provided

4. Rejoice how you have grown together

5. rejoice in the events of your life

Groan

Prov. 5:11 (NIV)

At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent.



Sin has a way of showing its effects on the body of the sinner. Even in our day of modern medicine, sin still leaves its marks on us. On the other hand long life has been promised to those who will honor their parents. Today, I will look ahead to the end of my days and live a life that will keep me from the groan.

Feast

Prov. 5:10 (NIV)


lest strangers feast on your wealth and your toil enrich another man’s house.



it seems that every week we read of a former star who has fallen prey to the lure of drugs. Dealers live lavishly on the backs of those whom they are able to hook. A life spent chasing after fulfilling the lusts of our flesh will end with strangers feasting on the things that we have worked hard to earn. Today I will think of the future. I will refuse to give my future to the things that will only serve to give my hard earned wealth to strangers.

Drip

Prov. 5:3 (NKJV)
For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil

Sweet talk is the tool of deceit. It tells us what we want to hear with no regard for truth or consequences. We need to raise our awareness of seductive words. Today we live in a world where advertisers have made a art of seductive words. In some ways we have developed a sixth sense for seductive words, but on the other hand as soon as think we are immune, then we are at risk. Today, I will be aware of seductive words that play to my flesh, my emotions, and my pride.

mocks

Prov. 3:33 - 34 (NIV)

33 The LORD’S curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.
34 He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.



God mocks proud mockers. I think I like that. (except when I am the proud mocker that is) I remember grade school and the times that the bullys would taunt those with less than perfection. It did not matter what the problem, whether a physical problem or something as simple as a stutter. Mockers always had a keen eye for shortfalls and were happy to exploit them. Now God comes into the picture and sticks up for all of us who are sometimes humbled by mockers. We have it in His word that he frustrates them and when they fail he mocks them. Score one for the little guy! Today, I will choose to be the little guy with the big God rather than the big guy with little chance of escaping the due results of my own pride.

Corrects

Prov. 3:11 - 12 (NKJV)
11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction; 12 For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.


No child, and I mean no child enjoys being corrected. Come to think of it most adults don't either. I hate it when my mistakes are seen by others and corrected. Just yesterday, I sent out an email that still had outdated information on it and as soon as Gabe told me, I naturally became defensive and then mad at myself for being so lax. In the same way it is very easy for us to despise the chastening of God in our lives. When he points out our sin we cringe and do everything that we can to avoid the shame and the guilt that come along with that. If we allow that to continue however, we will find ourselves hiding from Him as Adam did in the garden. We will stop praying, lest we think of our guilt, we will drop out of church so that our toes stay plump and cozy, we will avoid reading the Bible too. However, we must change the way that we see the correction of God in our lives. Because correction is the greatest act of love and care that our heavenly Father can bestow on our daily lives. His correction means that He cares. Let that sink in. When God corrects us, it means that our decisions matter to Him! Wow, let's live today knowing that the correction of God means that we are loved and valued by the God of the universe!

Acknowedge

Prov. 3:6 (NKJV)

In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.



J.A. Barnes says of this passage, "Not in acts of solemn worship or great crises only, but "in all thy ways;" and then God will make the "path" straight and even." How often do we only turn to God for direction when things are "out of control." In truth things are always out of our control, and we need to begin to acknowledge that truth in all areas of our life. Even the areas of our lives that we believe to be the most "under control" are the areas where we are tempted to not acknowledge God. So today we must ask ourselves what areas of our life are running smoothly? Is it financial, or family, or maybe our health? Whatever it may be, we must add it to the list of things in which we ask God for direction. Then and only then we can say that we acknowledge Him in all our ways.

Lean

Prov. 3:5 (NKJV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;

A wise man once said, "If at first you don't succeed, fail, fail again." Unfortunately in life we often lean ourselves on that cannot bear the weight. All of us have experienced times when we lean against something that we think is steady, but when it fails, we fall. God's word teaches us here that our own understanding is not able to hold our weight. If we continue to live according to our perceptive and our understanding, then we will fail, fail, again.

Trust

Prov. 3:5 (NKJV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;

According to Webster "trust is assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something. " All of these things come into our conversation when we talk about our Lord. Whether we acknowledge it or not all of our life relies on the Lord. Our very next breath comes by His grace. This verse goes beyond just the mere truth of trust to the acknowledgement of that trust. As believers, we must move beyond the simple head knowledge that God is in control, but to allow that truth to influence our hands and feet. It is only then that we truly are trusting in the Lord with all our heart.

Bind

Prov. 3:3 (NKJV)

Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart

Over the top, gaudy, and most of the time cheap jewelry has come to be known as "bling." Bling is known for its sparkle and size and serves to show the extravagant wealth of the wearer. On the other side of the coin is the what we should put on as wise children. Where bling is often imitation, we are called to put on truth. Where bling is about extravagant self indulgence, we are called to put on mercy. This Christian bling does not shine big here, but in the light of eternity it will shine forever.

Walk

Prov. 2:20 (NKJV)
So you may walk in the way of goodness, And keep to the paths of righteousness.

Like it or not, the Christian life is a walk. It is not a sprint, and there is no excuse for us tanding still. We are on a journey with Christ, and if we are not moving forward then we are not walking with Him. I must fight everyday the temptation to sit down and rest spiritually. I have to keep my eyes on the prize and press forward. He will not pace my walk any faster than I am able to keep.

Leave

Prov. 2:11 -13 (NKJV)

Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you, To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things, From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness;



One of the most difficult things in ministry is to watch people leave. Some will leave with stated objections to doctrine or practice and although they are the most vocal and do the most damage, they are not the ones you miss and hurt for as a pastor. The heartbreak for most pastors and for that matter most parents is to see the ones that they have given themselves to willfully leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness. We call it back sliding but in reality it is a conscious decision that people make. In ministry we must protect our most vulnerable people from those who choose the evil path. We do so by teaching discretion and understanding. As was said in a previous devotional this demands that we go beyond rules and teach principles. We teach our people to distinguish between truth and error in any situation. In response to this passage, we must encourage people to attend small group Bible Study where they are taught to apply God's Word to their daily lives. It is there that they will receive the instruction in spiritual discernment and understanding.

Preserves

Prov. 2:8 (NKJV)

He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints.

I love preserves. I rememer picking black berries at my Grandma Johns' house in GA as a child. She would put a pan of water on the stove and and cook down the berries into preserves. Then she would put wax on the top of the jars and as they cooled they would seal in the preserves for the long months between blackberry season. In the same way, God preserves our way as his children. As we walk the path that he has laid before us, we can count on Him protecting us. Today we must remember that where God guides, He provides!

Apply

Prov. 2:2 (NKJV)
So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding;

Inclining our ear to wisdom gives the sense of eavesdropping on the teacher of truth. To have an ear for truth is one thing, but to apply our heart to understanding what we have heard is where the work enters in. I remember a sign that hung in my uncle Bill's stable. It read "We hire people who look for work after they find a job." Finding truth is the easy part, but to put truth to work for us in our lives requires that we know more than just the answer, but why it is right. For instance, I can teach any two year old to say that "2+2=4." This however differs from teaching them to quantify two objects being added in a group to two other object thus leaving us with four objects. If he only learns to parrot the answer, he will not be able to apply the same principles of truth to other situations such as two plus three etc. The same is true with truth, we should not just learn what is right and what is wrong, but why those things are true, and then we will have the wisdom to APPLY the truth to other areas of our lives.

Receive

Prov. 2:1 (NKJV)
My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you,

Many of the Proverbs are written using a reflexive poetic style where a phrase is repeated thought for thought but not word for word. Solomon displays for us that sometimes we need to be reminded of truth. This very simple verse is setting the stage for the upcoming promise of 2:5. "Then you will understand the fear of the Lord." This is a conditional promise made on the basis of the previous "if" statements, and the first of those is the one we apply today. To receive my words. The challenge before us today is not just to hear the word of the Lord, but to take it with us. Not to just be hearers, but doers. As a pastor, it is my goal each week to use creativity and story telling to help people carry the truth of God's word home. In some way I believe that Solomon's use of poetry carries the same goal. What good would it be to sit under the greatest teacher of all time, and leave class empty minded as before. Today I will treasure this thought and keep God's word in its rightful place in my life.

Lurk

Prov. 1:18 (NKJV)
But they lie in wait for their own blood, They lurk secretly for their own lives.

Isn't it amazing that evil men, in their attempts to rob others really only rob themselves. If they would just learn that making an honest living will leave them happier and even richer than before then the world would be a better place. But to apply it to our lives, we must look a little closer. We must refuse to apply this verse to other people and apply it to ourselves. So here goes... When we cut corners, when we cheat, when we lie and even steal to get a little bit ahead, then we are actually working against ourselves. We must refuse to scheme ways to do it the "easy" way and just do it right.

Don't

Prov. 1:10 (NKJV)
My son, if sinners entice you, don't consent.

There is a lot of truth packed in that little verse. First we see Solomon as a loving father warning his son. There is love built into that relationship that gives power to this phrase. It is not some stranger's warning, it is fatherly advice. Second we see that in the world out there are sinners. People who have given themselves over to sin. Sin is what they do and what they are known for. Third, sinners entice non-sinners to become sinners too. Whether because of guilt, or because of lust, sinners are always trying to drum up more business. Drug abusers begin dealing to support their habit, liars need other liars to support their story, thieves need get-a-way drivers, etc. Sinners will always entice non-sinners to become sinners. Fourth, we see the response "don't consent." Pretty simple, but here is a nugget of truth we find in the Hebrew. The root of this word implies a passive acceptance. You see, our first steps into sin are not usually bold active steps, they are passive acceptance of sinful thoughts and behaviors in others. Let me splain ... It is not so much "don't give in to actively becoming a sinner," it is more "don't passively consent to be enticed." Make sense? So today we must ask ourselves the question, what sin am I passively accepting? What am I allowing to entice me, whether it is in the music I listen to, or the books I read, or the shows I watch? Am consenting to the enticement of sinners?

Fear

Prov. 1:7 (NKJV)
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

There are many things in life that we can choose to fear. Some choose to fear spiders, others fear germs. Some may fear change and some may even fear failure. On top of our list of things to fear should be God Himself. What greater to fear than the One who holds the Universe in His hands. One of my pet peves is when people show God disrespect by misusing His name. Today I will look for ways to display a healthy fear of God. Maybe the next time someone uses his name in vain I will gasp and tell them how stupid it is to mock God like that because the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

Spirit

Eph. 6:17 (NKJV)

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

There are two natural instincts when one is under attack, fight and flight. When we are in a dangerous situation our body produces adrenalin to give us the strength to take either of those options. In a spiritual sense, God has placed in us His Spirit to bring to mind verses of scripture to be used as a weapon against Satan. It is most vividly seen in Matthew 4, as Jesus quotes scripture to fight off temptation in the wilderness. So what should we do? We should memorize scripture. Hide God's Word in our hearts so that we might not sin against Him. The more we know of God's Word, the better equipped we will be for spiritual warfare. Bible memorization is not for kids anymore!

Salvation

Ephesians 6:17 (NKJV)

And take the helmet of salvation,

My favorite position in football is the linebacker. This is the guy who stands in the middle of the field and is tasked with knocking the daylights out of anything with a ball. Linebackers are probably the toughest guys on the field and they have the ability to put their head down and put their everything into the tackle. Why? Well I am glad you asked. You see, they wear a helmet, and this helmet helps them know that no matter how hard the hit, their head will stay safe. They have learned this over many years and many tackles. I am sure that the first hits were apprehensive, but the helmet saved their head enough where now they are virtually fearless. In the same way we are able to charge into spiritual battles with the knowledge that our salvation is secure. Today let us live as if the greatest spiritual battle has already been won, and now we can fight with abandon.

Faith

Eph. 6:16 (NKJV)

above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

Not above all in importance, no this carries more the idea that a shield is an additional piece of armor that even covers the already protected parts. An extra layer of protection if you will. This is possible because the shield was something you wield, a versatile and strategic piece of armor that can be placed between you and the fiery darts of the wicked one. So the question is before us today, how do you wield your faith? How are you using your faith to protect you from attacks. Are you just setting it in place and hoping that all attacks will come from that direction or are you alert to attacks and strategically putting faith where it is needed. Let me give an example. Right now our military is retrofitting its Humvees for roadside explosives. Originally the canvas sides were able to provide airflow for the desert heat, but now as they move to patrol streets, the canvas is a weakness. Knowing the enemy's strategy, they are placing shields on the sides of the humvees before they go on patrol. Today, let's look for our weaknesses and things our enemy may use to attack and lets put up a shield of faith to quench his fiery darts.

Peace

Eph. 6:15 (NKJV)

and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

It is said that the Greek soldiers would install nails in the soles of their shoes in the same way that our modern day athletes do. A firm footing would definitely give the upper hand in this form of battle. But what I love about this verse is the idea of preparation. Too often in our spiritual battles we wait until the battle is on before we feel the urgency to prepare. However most of the time it is too late. That is why Bible Study is so key to the Christian life. We must do our basic training before the battles come. Today, I will prepare for future battles by knowing the gospel and thus achieve peace.

Righteousness

Eph. 6:14 (NKJV)

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

The coat of mail was a vital piece of armor. Its primary function was to protect the heart from the spears and arrows of the enemy. A blow to the heart is nearly impossible for any soldier to overcome. Our enemy knows this and often this is the "heart" of his strategy. Job of the Old Testament understood this battle. In just a few days, Satan was allowed to take away everything that he loved, everything that is except his wife. His children were killed, his servants, his wealth and even his health. I believe Satan was fine with leaving Job's wife as she would become his greatest ally. However Job also retained his righteousness. Job's armor of righteousness would keep his heart and perspective pure throughout his suffering. The first half of the word righteousness is the word "right." I don't want to trivialize the thought, but righteousness is the ability to remain right. When Satan attacks our hearts we need to retain a right view of who God is, a right view of eternity, a right view of reality. Today, may we be able to remain right when our heart is attacked. To be protected from his attacks by our own breastplate of righteousness.

Truth

Ephesians 6:14 (NKJV)

Stand therefore, having girded your waits with truth...

Batman was on TV last night. The one from 1989 where Jack Nicholson played the joker. we watched it for a few minutes so that Andrew (6) and Abby (9) would relish in the super heroes of our day. Batman was his usual self with all the gadgets and typical hero fare. As any fan knows, Batman has no real super powers, all of his ability is natural, but aided by his incredible belt. The belt has been used by heroes throughout history as the holster for their weaponry. Always at ones side and near the hand has made the belt the obvious choice for where to keep your most vital wartime necessities. As we go into spiritual battle today, may we remember that the truth is on our side and it that it is readily available to us. May we remember that through prayer we can call on Him who is THE TRUTH, and he will be by our side to help us fight the spiritual warfare.

Armor

Ephesians 6:11 (NKJV)

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

In 1965 Dupont created a synthetic fiber that was used in ropes and hopefully would replace steel belting in tires. However thefact that kevlar was pound for pound 5 times stronger than steel soon made it ideal fabric for modern body armor. Armor was developed very early in human history as a way to protect our most vital organs from the enemy's attack. It should go without saying that the only good armor is the one that is worn. For a soldier to go into battle owning armor does not do him any good unless he puts it on. As believers we know that we are in a constant battle for our minds with the devil and that our greatest defense is to put on the whole armor of God. This week we will focus on that armor as we prepare for this Sunday's message on the armor.

Respect

Eph. 5:33 (NIV)
each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Respect is an interesting thing. It seems to take lots of hard work to earn, but can be lost in a moment. As love is a wife's greatest emotional need, respect is the husband's. I find that when my wife respects my decisions, that I find it a lot easier to be the leader that God has called me to be. The wife sets the tone for the entire family as the first follower. It is important to remember that leadership is tough enough, and when I find myself in the position as the first follower, that any disrespect on my part just serves to undermine the whole institution, whether it be marriage or ministry. I also must realize that I must act in a way that I maintain the respect of my followers. Today, I will show respect to those over me and those under me. I will act in a way deserving of their respect, and I will show God respect by not taking his name in vain.

Submit

Eph. 5:21 (NIV)

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Submission in this passage is almost always pushed on the women as is seen in the following verses. However, it is good for us to focus on the ideal of submission in all Christian relationships. Submission's greatest example is that of our Savior who being equal with God, made himself on no reputation and took on the form of a servant and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Jesus did not submit because he was less God, submission is a voluntary act. When we submit our will and our preferences for the benefit of others it shows Christ reverence. Today, I will refuse to be irreverent by not submitting myself for the benefit of others.

Music

Eph. 5:19 (NIV)

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,

God has blessed our church with an outstanding lead worshipper in Pastor Gabe Dunlap. After traveling with Brother's Keeper for 8 years and several top 10 songs on the Christian charts, he settled down and has been a tremendous blessing to our church. He is constantly developing the music program, both with the kids and with the adults. He has stretched our congregation even in the variety and quality of the music we sing. I say this about Gabe because he is not only an accomplished singer, but he is a talented song writer. God willing this Sunday we will sing a song he wrote in response to last Sunday's message. "I'm Gonna' Live Like You are God," came from a phrase I used in my conclusion and is a great truth that Gabe has made into music. The making of music should be differentiated from that of singing music we already know. God is a God of revelation and music is one of the greatest mediums to display a revelation from God. When God reveals himself to us, we should speak to one another by making music. Don't be afraid today to make up your own little jingle of what God is revealing to you.

Opportunity

Eph. 5:16 (NIV)
making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

The New King James translates this "Redeeming the time" which is the more literal and thus better translation of this verse from the original text. I draw attention to it for a couple of reasons. 1. The NKJV is our standard text at CBC because it is the best modern "literal" text. It uses a word for word translation rather than a thought for thought. This verse is a good example of that. I often will use the NIV, but it draws criticism for this trait. 2. I use this verse today to show that the NIV does give us some good thoughts. Translating the thought of redeeming the time as making the most of every opportunity is a good one. I have come to learn in the last few weeks that I often don't even recognize opportunity. In truth opportunity seldom knocks, it just quietly waits outside the door for us to look through the peep hole and see it standing there on the porch. Today, I will concentrate myself to heighten my awareness of opportunities knowing that the days are evil.

Light

Eph. 5:8 (NKJV)

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.

Notice that it does NOT say, you were once IN darkness, but now your are IN light. IN fact it says that we were darkness. Darkness was not a condition of our environment, it was our very essence. We were darkness! but now, (by the way, my favorite word in the Bible is the word "but") But now, you are light. No light is not just a condition of our environment, it is now our essence. God has left us here as lights.

Lights mean things. Everywhere on earth, lights are used to help others see, they are used for signals to communicate, and they are even used in medicine to heal. If you look at a light bulb, the light actually comes when there is a high amount of power passing through the smal filament. It is more power than the filament can handle and the light we see is the overflow. Today, let us ask God to empower us to the extent that our lights will shine bright.

Empty

Eph. 5:6 (NKJV)
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Empty words carry no weight. In context, there will always be those who excuse, and explain away the laws of God. However the words are without merit. The words and excuses that they give lack substance. We must never allow ourselves or anyone else to make excuses for sin. Whether it be our own sin or the sin of another. The Bible makes it clear that repentance is the only proper response to sin. No excuses today!

Imitators

Eph. 5:1 (NKJV)
Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

Everyone hates a fake. Someone who poses as one thing and in actuality is another. Churches are often accused of being full of hypocrites. People who are impostors. But there is a vast difference between an impostor and an imitator. Let me explain. A poser, impostor, and a fake are those who are falsely putting themselves out to cause others to believe that they are something that they are not. Here we are commanded to not be impostors, but to be imitators. Imitations is not only the greatest form of flattery, it is the essence of living the Christian life. As God is perfect, we are to constantly work to perfect ourselves and live like Him. As a child who dons their parents shoes we are to put on the learn and pattern our lives after Christ. Today, let us pick one trait of God to be our theme today and then we can practice that behavior until we grow to be just like our Father.

Kind

Eph. 4:32 (NKJV)

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Kindness according to Webster is archaic. I would have to agree. It seems that kindness is something that we no longer give much attention to today. Today we are all about exchange. I will scratch your back as long as you scratch mine. The verse goes on to talk about forgiveness. forgiveness is also one way. It cannot be exchanged. It is intended to be given regardless and if there is any exchange then it kind of nullifies the whole sentiment. We need to get back to showing kindness with no strings attached. Just as God showed us kindness and forgiveness by sending His Son to die in our stead.

Helpful

Eph. 4:29 (NIV)

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

One of the most difficult things for any pastor is deciding what message series to deliver to the church. The Bible is inexhaustable in its truth and a church could conceiveably teach and preach for years and never get beyond truth to helpful. One of my goals in preaching and teaching as well as the blog is that it goes beyond disseminating truth to giving truth that is helpful.

Sun Set

Eph. 4:26 26

"Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun set on your wrath,

Sunsets are beautiful to watch, but when the sun is setting and your heart is not right, our anger overrides our ability to enjoy the sunset. When we pause to stare at the setting sun, we are often overwhelmed by the peace and tranquility of that particular moment in the day. The chapter is closing and all is finished. However if we have unresolved issues, then we will not enjoy the peace of the sunset or the rest of the night. It is likely that the one with whom we are angry will also feel the same. It is best to deal with our anger issues today, and not allow them the opportunity to develop into sin.

Unwholesome

Eph. 4:29 (NIV)

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Camp has taught me that if left to themselves, kids will often choose junk food. At first we all would choose the candy and soda, it tastes sweet, but in the end it is unwholesome. After a while the bodies rebel and the kids head for the salad bar. In life and ministry, the world is full of junk food. Things that we can partake in but are not really helpful. The words we choose to feed others should be helpful, and according to their needs.

Put Off

Eph. 4:25 (NIV)

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

Today we are at Jr. Camp and I am in a cabin with 30 2nd - 6th graders. If you have never been to Jr. Camp, then you need to know that they spend all day sweating, and getting dirty, and if we are lucky they consider the pool as their baths. After a few days, they really begin to smell. The funny thing is that they don't even realize it. They have worn those dirty clothes so long, that they no longer even smell it themselves. As a counselor, I make it my duty to toe help them "put off" that dirty laundry. In the same way, we can fall into a pretty offensive pattern of lying and speaking falsehood. After a while it becomes a habit, and we seem to be immune to how awful it stinks to those around us. We need to put off falsehood, before we alienate ourselves. The great thing is that each of the kids' parents packed clean clothes for them. It does not take much for us to putt off the falsehood and put on honesty!

Ignorance

Eph. 4:18 (NIV)

They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.

Oh yes... the ignorance that is in us, waiting for the right moment to show itself and embarrass us to no end. The truth is that even brain surgeons are no rocket scientists. Even the most knowledgeable in one area is a complete dufus in another. It is amazing that as we look at this verse that their ignorance came as a result of the hardening of their hearts. I believe it is okay to be ignorant as long as you are not arrogant. Once we start thinking that we know it all then we harden our heart and begin to be darkened in our understanding. From a Christian perspective that is why we are totally amazed at the level of ignorance that is displayed by so called scientists who have written off creation as an option for the origins of the universe. They declare it to be religion, harden their hearts and show themselves ignorant. Unfortunately it also comes with consequences. When we harden our hearts and darken our hearts then we become separated from the life of God. Wow. Dear God, soften my heart to your knowledge and understand so that I can live the life of God.

Insist

Eph. 4:17 (NIV)
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.

When was the last time you used that phrase? I insist! It is common to use the phrase when we want someone to go ahead of us, and we are stuck with each trying to be polite. However, Paul is using it as a parent would to a child who somehow thinks that the demands of the parent are optional. The term is from the original "martus" the same that we use to describe a martyr. It is with this strong feeling that he tells the Ephesian Christians to no longer live according to the futile thought patterns of their time. So with Paul, today I am going to insist on some things for us. Not just for you, but for me as well.


1. I insist that we think in eternal perspectives.


2. I insist that we put God first, others second and ourselves last


3. I insist that we do all to the glory of God


4. I insist that we set our minds on things above and all those "whatsoever" things

Work

Eph. 4:16 (NIV)

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

How would your body feel if your liver stopped working, what about your esophogus, or your appendix, or your spleen? Our organs do not get a lot of our attention and most of the time we take them for granted. However their work is essential to our health, and if each part does not do its work then the whole body suffers. Which part are you in the body of Christ? A you a part? and, if you are a part, are you working? How does the work that you do, or fail to do make the rest of the body feel? Is the body you attend sick? Is it hurting? And if so, how can you work to make it healthy again?

Love

Eph. 4:15 (NIV)

speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

Dobson defines love as the attitude of self sacrifice to meet the needs of the cherished person. Love is a strange and often misunderstood emotion, and for me that has led to being very cautious with it as a term. In some ways we misuse the term and remove all meaning by saying that we love football, Apple pie and action movies. In other ways we fail to use the term enough. However, recently I determined to tell people that I love them. I want them to know that they are cherished and that I have an attitude of self sacrifice to prove it. We need to stop being so silent with our love and let our words match our feelings. To say "I love you" at inappropriate times and to people outside our family. It should be okay for me to tell another man that I love him and to tell another man's wife that I love her too. I should not withhold that knowledge from my kids or my wife or from you. So here goes. Dear devotional reader for today, I love you. I really do. and by that I mean that you are valued, cherished even; my attitude is that I will sacrifice my self to meet your needs as Christ gives me the ability. Now it is your turn... try saying I love you to someone at an inappropriate time. It is fun. They feel all awkward at first, but soon realize that they are truly loved, and love... is the most powerful emotion on earth!

Editor's note: The picture is from one of my favorite children's books "Guess how much I love you" Ask me the next time we meet and I will tell you.

Truth

Eph. 4:15 (NIV)
speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

To tell you the truth, I struggle sometimes with the balance that is speaking the truth in love. I am very good at one or the other, but both is hard. I am really good at being critical of those who violate the truth that I know. I can point out their inconsistencies and error in a way that can bring shame and anger from even the most mild mannered among us. I also am good at loving people. I have the ability to feel their hurt as well as their happiness with them as if it were my own. One of my biggest struggles is the application of this verse. To find the right balance for speaking the truth in love. If I err on the side of truth, I will drive people away and come across as arrogant and self righteous. If I err on the side of love, I will come across as condoning and shallow. I must seek God's wisdom on what it meas to apply this truth in my life. To confront sin as Jesus did with the money changers, and yet love the sinner as he did with Zachaeus. Probably the best instruction I have received in this area shows that Christ was harsh against proud sinners, and soft on repentant sinners. I know that I have a long way to go and pray that today God will help me to know the truth, to love the sinner and the grace to balance the two.

Built

Eph. 4:11 - 12 (NIV)

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

Construction takes place all around us. It seems that the state flower would be a construction cone. Everybody is building. Building roads, building homes, building buildings. On a side note, why do we call them buildings? If they are complete shouldn't we call them builts or something? The thing that we as a church are called to build is people. We can never forget that people are the reason Christ died. People are more important than buildings. Today I pray that God will give me opportunities to build up my children. To put up some walls, strengthen their foundation, to give them a little protection from this cold harsh world. And I pray that it will go beyond just my kids to God granting me the opportunity to build someone else up. That he will allow me to see someone who has been torn down, and recognize it as a divine appointment to do a little people construction.

Prepare

Eph. 4:11 - 12 (NIV)

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

We get the word prepare from the french pre(before) and Parare meaning, acording to Webster to "trim off an outside, excess, or irregular part of " In the original sense this word, "artee-os" in the Greek, carries the idea of refreshing, or of making ready every part. It is highly similar in its origin for the Greek word "artos"for bread. The thoughts seems to be that the role of the leadership of the church is to develop people. This may include ideas of trimming excess and irregular parts from people's lives so that they are more fit for ministry, or carefully kneading them and allowing them to rise to the challenge. All in all today, we must realize that the job description given here is secondary to the job that it represents. The purpose of leadership is arriving at a destination. Therefore the purpose of preparation is for works of service. Today I will prepare in such a was as to not just to know more about God, but to be better able, and more likely to serve God.

One

Eph. 4:4 - 6 (NKJV)

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

The theme of Ephesians is... you guessed it, unity. Today's world is marked by individualism we are all gravitating to the "i"pod, eating our burgers "my way", and scheduling TV shows around our own time. Self centered-ness permeates our culture and uniqueness is seen as a virtue. We tend to focus more attention on our differences than what we have in common. Chipper Jones, the great baseball player of the Atlanta Braves comes to mind. They call him chipper, because he had (before he made millions and got it repaired) a chipped tooth. You see we nickname people based on their differences. We describe people by their peculiarities. The short pudgy one with wirey hair, bucked teeth and glasses who always wears the chartreuse pants. Unity and for that part Christianity requires that we focus more on our commonalities that our conflicts. Paul does good to remind us here that although we as a church are very different in our looks, styles, cultures, and countries of origin, that we have the important things in common. We are one Body (church), One Spirit, One Hope, One Lord, One faith, One baptism, One God.

Worthy

Eph. 4:1 (NKJV)
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.

Worthy, from the Greek word Axio literally means to live appropriate to our calling. When we are saved, a redeemed life should naturally follow. A good example of this is found in this Fox News article from today.

An Arizona man shocked cops in the East Village this week by walking into the local precinct and announcing that he'd strangled a woman on East 13th Street during an argument in 2004 -- and that Jesus Christ wanted him to turn himself in.
Authorities said the confession has solved the previously cold-case murder of Myrna Gonzales, a 45-year-old homeless woman whose body was found folded into a large steamer trunk in a vacant lot at East 13th Street and Third Avenue.
"We wish Jesus would solve more of these," one law enforcement source said.
Michael Mohr, 51, might have gotten away with the slaying. But he'd recently had a religious conversion, and realized Jesus wanted him to do the right thing.

Walking worthy means that we do the appropriate thing, no matter the cost, no matter what. With Paul, I beseech you to walk worthy today. Do what is right no matter the cost!

Imagine

Eph. 3:20 (NIV)
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us

The imagination is a powerful thing. A children we would spend hours playing in the pretend world of our imagination. Life however has a way of exchanging our imagination for reality. In fact it is very hard for us as adults to imagine very much at all. I read this quote in a commentary on Ephesians this week, and it struck me so much that I had to go and make Amy read it.

"I read of the rockets and the probes into outer space. I read concerning man's braggadocio declaration that he will go to the moon, and that he will use the moon as a springboard to reach Mars! And then I remember that every major judgment God has sent upon this earth was preceded by the desire of God's creatures to by-pass God and become gods themselves."

It is hard to believe that in 1963 that space travel as we know it was thought to be "braggadocio" that going to the moon or to Mars was thought to be an attempt to "by-pass" God. I though about this last night as I stood in the front yard with my family and my neighbors and watched the space shuttle Atlantis blast into orbit. Wow! Somebody imagined that, when others were saying things like this guy, who by the way will go nameless.

I only bring this up to make the point that we as believers can easily kill the very imagination that God has given us. God does not want us to live in this human reality, God wants us to live in His reality. And His reality appears to be a lot more fun, a lot safer, and the only true reality. I don't know about you, but I am going to spend some time today imagining what God can do through me, and what God can do through Cornerstone. Then I am going to talk to Him about it and then go read this verse again and know that He is able to do immeasurably more than I can even imagine.

Immaeasurably

Eph. 3:20 (NIV)
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.

From our World Hope Mission
On January 12, 2001 evangelist Dr. David A. Janney of Orlando, Florida and Dr. Benny M. Abante Jr., Filipino host pastor, along with 57 delegates from the USA., and over 1,000 pastors from the Philippines,experienced an incredible "Jesus Saves Crusade" at the Luneta Grandstand in Manila, Philippines.
Praying for and expecting as many as 200,000 to attend, the crowd easily exceeded 350,000 with some Philippine news reporters estimating as many as 500,000 present. Manila Mayor Lito Atienza and former Mayor Mel Lopez were honored guests. The 1,000-voice choir, led by Pastor Reuben Abante, along with other stirring music and drama, was a dynamic catalyst in directing the crowd's attention to our Saviour, Jesus Christ. The gigantic crowd listened attentively as Dr. Janney preached an evangelistic message from Mark Chapter 5, on the woman in the crowd, who believed if she could just get to Jesus, she would be made whole. As Pastor Benny Abante offered the invitation in a mix of both English and Tagalog, the choir sang as a throng of people began to move forward. The foresight of the crusade committee had prepared several thousand workers to meet and pray with those who came to receive Christ as Savior, yet even the workers were overwhelmed as the crowd pressed to come to Jesus. By evening's end, over 50,000 souls had been added to the Lord's family.

I thank God for doing immeasurably more than we imagine because we often ask too little and imagine too small.

Surpasses

Eph. 3:18 -19 (NIV)
may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Christ is endless. He is God, and everything about Him is eternal and boundless. To know His love is to experience a love that is ever expanding just as our universe continues to expand. My love however has limits. I have limits of patience, limits of giving, limits of love. I sometimes let those I "love" down because I do not love them in the way that they expect or deserve to be loved. My love is nothing like the love of Christ. His love surpasses knowledge. There will never be a time when I will reach the end of His love. I will never be able to say that I know the limits of the love of Christ. I will one day spend eternity in heaven, and even then I will not be able to reach the end of His limitless love. As a follower of Christ, I pray that others will see His love reflected in me, because my love is limited.

Rooted

Eph. 3:17 (NKJV)

that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

The life of the tree exists in the roots. Just as the roots are invisible but essential to the life of the plant so it is with Christ in our spiritual life. Often I desire the deep, rich vibrancy and the fruit that is the visible part of the Christian life, but in order to achieve that end, my focus must be on a deep and grounded root. During the winter months the majority of the growth of the tree takes place in the roots. It is through this trial that the whole tree is strengthened. Then as Spring time comes, we can see the fruit of that struggle. Quality fruit comes as a direct result of quality roots. Today, I will focus more attention on deepening my invisible roots more than I calling attention to the visible fruits.

Dwell

Eph. 3:17a (NKJV)

that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;

What does it mean that Christ may dwell in your hearts? We use this type of language all the time as Christians, but does Jesus really live in our hearts. Unfortunately for many believers the light is on, but nobody is home. The light is on in that we have been enlightened to the truth that Jesus is the Christ, we would even say that we accept Him as our Savior. However, even though He owns the house, it is hard to see any evidence of His indwelling in our everyday lives. If a dwelling is really inhabited there would be evidence. The first sign is that light would shine through. If there is no light, indwelling is often suspect. Secondly, an inhabited house would show outside evidence of inside activity... a car, some toys, there always is some outside indication. Also, an indwelt house will show signs of use, things will break, but the one who lives inside will repair it. Today, I pray that others will take notice of the one who dwells in our hearts.

Freedom

Eph. 3:12 (NIV)
In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Freedom is something that we enjoy but never comes for free. Just as our service men and women worked and sacrificed for our political freedom, Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice for our spiritual freedom. I remember growing up always wanting more freedom. Rules, restrictions, and reality all meant that freedom was impaired, at least that was the case in my teenage mind. I grew to hate the phrase "with freedom comes responsibility." We have freedom to come to God through faith in Christ but with that freedom comes responsibility. Freedom to talk to God means that we also have the responsibility to do so with respect. Freedom does not mean that we treat God as a peer or fail to show him the due honor. May we spend today freely approaching the throne of grace with confidence, showing God the honor and respect that He is due.

Unsearchable

Eph. 3:8 (NKJV)

To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

We live in a day when unsearchable seems too extreme. With modern Satellites and computers, I can literally look at a satellite photo of my house. (see my house here) I also have vast libraries of knowledge at my finger tips. Just 50 years ago, the libraries of the world were virtually inaccessible, but now I can Google any word or idea. I can read Wikipedia and find the scoop on just about everything. However, Google will never be able to access all the unsearchable riches of Christ. It cannot be cataloged. It is beyond comprehension. I am glad that I have such a God. I am glad that I will spend eternity learning and understand His greatness. The fact that his riches are unsearchable does not discourage me, my goal is not to learn everything and be finished with Him. the joy is in the journey. Today, I want to learn something new about my Savior.

Built

Eph. 2:21 - 22 (NKJV)

...in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Driving up and down US 27, it is not uncommon to see what was an orange grove cleared overnight and construction beginning. We tend to watch in eager anticipation of what will be coming to our area. We hope that it is our favorite restaurant, or a store that we usually have to drive a long way to reach. Then in the end we finally see it coming together and can identify what is being built. In the same way, we are all under construction. God is in the process of clearing some things out of our lives and building some things into our lives so that in the end we are a "dwelling place of God in the Spirit." The next time that God takes something from you, know that he is just clearing some room to build. Don't bemoan the loss, but anticipate the building.

Cornerstone

Eph. 2:20 (NKJV)

having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,

About 5 years ago, I did an addition on our house. We converted a falling down porch into a real room. In order to do so, we had to dig a new footer, pour a slab, and build a block wall. It took much thought and careful laying of the first block. A String was pulled to show the line, and the first block was laid in such a way, that when we got to the end of the wall, that it would line up perfectly. If the block was off by just a fraction of an inch, then the wall would have been off by as much as a foot in the end. Everything depended on that corner block. Jesus Christ is our cornerstone. We must build our lives in such a way that they perfectly line up with Him. By doing so, we not only end up where we should be, we are pleasing to our creator. Today, lets examine our lives and see if there are areas that we do not line up with Christ. Then adjust so that every area meets His perfect standard.

Access

Eph. 2:18 (NKJV)

For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

Last Fall I accompanied Gabe and the band on the Girls Get Away Cruise. I know it was kinda weird, but taking my wife on a free cruise was too good to pass up. Being one of 14 guys on a boat with 3,000 women was awkward, but the cool thing was the VIP pass that we had as artists. With that pass I could go to any meal time, any concert, any time any place. We even had our own private deck. Having that pass meant that there were no limits, all access. That was amazing for sure, but does not compare to the all access pass to God, the creator of the universe that we have been given through Jesus Christ. When we really stop to think, it is amazing that we have access to God himself. At any time and any place we can talk to Him. Let that sink in for a moment. ........ Now, today pull out your all access pass and use it. Spend some time talking to God, tell him about your love for Him, your needs, your hurts, and dreams. Read His word and get to know Him better. Don't waste your all access pass.

Reconcile

Eph. 2:15 -16 (NKJV)

...having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

Probably one of the most frustrating things in life is reconciling a bank statement. Usually it is an error in addition, or a missing receipt. Until that missing piece of the puzzle can be identified and corrected we are left in agony. The amazing thing is that just one penny off and you are not reconciled. It does not matter the amount, unreconciled is unreconciled. We too are irreconcilable to God as sinners. The minimal amount of our sin does not regard us any different than the vilest of sinners. as we see in Romans, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We are all unreconciled. However, Jesus Christ abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is the law of commandments that we have broken, thus making peace. So we are reconciled to God through the cross. Praise God today that Jesus made a way for you to come into agreement with His holy law, in spite of your wicked ways.

Near

Eph. 2:13 (NKJV)

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.


Living in Four Corners, means having to drive a long way for anything that is not a theme park or tourist trap. It seems that everything is far off. Some of the greatest news is when we hear that something is coming near. Just this week we heard that there is a Super Target coming in 2008. what was a 40 minute trip, will now be just 5-7 minutes away. When it comes to the distance between us and God, 40 minutes does not compare. In truth we were an eternal distance from Him. A distance that would be impossible to travel. But we, who were once far off have been brought near. We are near God. Take advantage of that today. Draw close to Him, enjoy His presence.

Hope

Eph. 2:12 (NKJV)
that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

What does it mean to be hopeless? Hopelessness means without God. The two are not just synonymous, they are one. Part of the horror of hell is that it is without God and therefore hopeless. We, who have been saved from our hopeless state must remember today that those we bump into, and rub shoulders with are too hopeless without God. May we be used of Him today to bring hope tot he hopeless.

Separate

Eph. 2:12 (NIV)
remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.

What is the point of forgiveness? What motivates us to seek God's forgiveness? Do we seek forgiveness to the end that we escape hell? Do we seek forgiveness to the end that we gain hell? Do we seek forgiveness to relieve our guilty conscience? If you answered yes to any of the previous questions then you need to re-evaluate the motivation for your seeking God's forgiveness. The sole motivation for seeking forgiveness is a restored relationship. Thus we must see that restoration is the reason we are forgiven by God. I have often hurt others by my word and my actions. I soon seek their forgiveness, but not to relieve my conscience, or because I fear what I might lose, but I want our relationship to be restored. To receive the verbal forgiveness of a lost friend or loved one without a restored relationship would not benefit either they or myself. Remember that you were separate from Christ. Without God in the world. Seek His forgiveness and the restoration of your lost relationship.

Stewardship

Eph. 2:10 (NKJV)

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Go to the Grand Canyon, or watch the sun set, and you will know that God is an artist and an artisan. Yet the crowning achievement of His creation, His masterpiece is you. The great thing is that He is still not finished with you yet. You are His hobby, His joy. Everyday when you wake up, He goes to work on you, molding you into the image of His Son. What we see as temporary trials and affliction, is His careful hands crafting us for good works.

Seated

Eph. 2:6 (NIV)
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus

When we think of sitting we usually think of it in the sense of resting. Although this can be inferred in the sense that heavenly places are a place of rest it is not the word picture that Paul is describing. Here sitting implies position in his kingdom. We who were dead in our trespasses and sins, far removed from God, have been raised up with Christ and are now seated with him. In ancient times the rulers would sit at the city gates to make judgment. We still use this term today when we refer to the county "seat" or the "chair"man of the board. Siting with Christ spiritually indicates a position of power over the flesh that we did not have when we walked according to the ways of the world. Because we have been raised up we are in authority and no longer slaves to sin. Knowing this, we are forced to ask ourselves a few questions. 1. Am I acting like a powerless slave to my flesh, or am I acting as one who holds a position of power? 2. Do I have the confidence that accompanies a person of authority? God has given us this picture to let us know that because of Him we too have power over sin and death. Today, climb into your power chair and refuse to obey your flesh!

Through

Eph. 2:8 (NKJV)
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God

If grace is motivation for God to save us, then faith is the mechanism of our salvation. The beauty of Ephesians is the balanced description in our salvation. Some might argue, based on the foreknowledge of God that our salvation is totally dependent on God "electing" us. (Eph. 1:4) Others might argue from the same chapter that salvation is a result of our believing (Eph. 1:13) What is evident in this passage is that both are necessary for salvation. Thus Salvation truly is by grace (God's) through faith (ours).

Grace

Eph. 2:8 -9 (NKJV)
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.

Unmerited favor. 10 years ago, after trying for several years and many Doctors' visits. We found out that we were expecting. If it was a boy it would be Andrew, and if a girl it would be Abigail. We knew that, but a middle name escaped us. On the wall of my office was a print of Noah's ark, with a dove perched on a branch of a tree. At the bottom were the words from Genesis 6:8 "Noah found grace..." Grace is God's blessing irregardless of our merit. Hence we named our daughter Abigail - (Father's joy) Grace - (unmerited favor) My daughter is a constant reminder that she is my unearned gift of joy direct from the grace of God.

It is by grace that we have been saved. if faith is the mechanism of our faith, then grace is the motivation. God, motivated by His infinite grace, extends salvation to us.

Followed

Eph. 2:2 (NIV)
in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

For those of us who are believers, who have been made alive, we must often be reminded that we too used to follow the ways of this world. There are two inherent dangers in forgetting our old path. First we will soon take for personal accomplishment the holiness that has come about as the result of Christ's personal sacrifice. Sometimes, people who have been a long time forget that the sanctified life that they now live has not always been so. Hence the second danger is that it becomes very easy to for us to look down our noses with disbelief at sinners who are still struggling to become like Christ. The Apostle Paul was probably one of the holiest of all the believers, yet he consistently reminded his readers, and for that matter himself that he was the chief of all sinners, and that the things that he wanted to do, he failed to do, and the things that he tried not to do, he found himself doing. Paul never forgot that he was simply a sinner, saved by grace.

Rich

Eph. 2:4 - 6 (NKJV)
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus

I remember as a kid growing up in Key Largo, getting home from school and going out to play in the back yard. In the Keys, the back yard was water. I would spend hours scouring the bottom and under our dock for sunken treasure. Some kids' heroes were Superman and Spiderman, mine was Jacques Cousteau. Let's just say it was really hard to find a lunchbox.

Last week the Florida Deep Sea Explorers a Tampa firm release the fact that they have begun mining 17 tons of gold and silver from an undisclosed shipwreck in the Atlantic. The estimated value of the find is around $500 million dollars. I think we all have dreamt of finding that kind of abundance.

If we read the chapter too quickly, we will gloss over this phrase because on the surface our mind tells us that it is a fact that we already know. God is rich.... Already got that one. And we will read past it without getting out of the boat and going deep. We must get to the bottom of this because that is where the true treasure lies. The golden truth of this verse is not that God is rich, or even that He is rich in mercy, but that He is rich towards us. When His abundance overflows, it spills down on us. God's rich mercy was first expressed in creation, but the ultimate picture of mercy is the new creation. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. (2 Cor. 5:17)

How would you live differently if you were rich? Would you give more? Would you worry less? Would you live better? I am here to tell you that you are rich. God who is rich has directed those riches towards us, and as a result you have un-found wealth. Not monetary wealth, but a wealth of of God's mercy. So, now let me ask again, how will you live differently today knowing that you are rich in mercy? Will you give more mercy? Will you worry less? Will you live better? Try living rich today. Be extravagant.

Dead

Eph. 2:1 (NKJV)
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins

Okay it is a little weird writing your name on a tombstone. But I recommend it to everyone. It will change your mindset and really awaken you to the reality of Ephesians 2:1. We were born dead, lifeless, without any strength or ability of our own. Jesus however, through His mighty power has made us alive. Any life that I now demonstrate is a direct result of the life that He gives. without Christ, I would still be dead in my trespasses and sin.