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.

Fills

Eph. 1:22 -23 (NKJV)

And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

This Sunday we will be looking at the tabernacle. God asked Moses to build the tabernacle while he was on Mount Sianai. It is said that when the tabernacle was complete that the glory of God filled the tabernacle. I love full. I love large portions, Super sized drinks and Biggie fries. Once I got fries and the carton was half empty. Not happy. I love the times when they are stuffing more into the carton than actually fits. Our God does not skimp. He fills all in all. Overflowing!

Working

Eph. 1:19 - 20 (NKJV)

...and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places

God is at work all around us, and what exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe. Sometimes it is easy for us to overlook the power that God exerts on our behalf. Either we have become accustom to it, or take it for granted, but He said that all things work together for the good of those who are the called according to His purpose. that means that no matter the circumstances in the life of any believer, God himself steps in and by His mighty power, changes the natural result of those circumstances around so that in the end they work together, and they work for our good. What we might attribute to chance, or good fortune is really the power of God on our behalf. It is like getting on a plane and not taking into consideration all the engineering that has gone into that flight. It is still there carrying us to our predetermined destination whether we stop to consider it or not. Beyond, aerodynamics, beyond, jet propulsion, beyond mechanics, and millions of other variables, we walk onto the plane, we sit down and expect that it will all work together. How often do I take God for granted in this way. How many times have I accepted as fate, the great feat of power he has brought to bear on my life.

Better

Eph. 1:17 (NIV)
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

"Better" is not a word of measure, but a word of comparison. Too often in our Christian lives we get into achievement mode. We pray that our loved ones will "get saved," get in church," "get in small group," "get in the Bible." I must admit that my prayers often fall into this trap of multi-level Christianity. Paul does not pray that way for the Ephesians. His constant prayer is that they will always, by God's grace, know Him better. All relationships must fight the urge to settle down, to get comfortable and snuggle in, to be content to splash around in the shallow end. God, wants a relationship with us that is constantly getting better, through the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. As we read His Bible in the daily, as we walk with other believers, as we sit around the table and apply God's Word to our lives, then, and only then will we get better. May this be our prayer for one another, better yet, may this be our prayer for ourselves.

Believed

Eph. 1:13 (NKJV)

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise

There is a sense in today's language that to believe is to give mental assent to somethings existence. Example: "I believe in aliens" or "I believe in the Loch Ness Monster;" Now, one's belief in their existence has no bearing on life, or otherwise. The vast majority of people will give this sort of mental assent to the existence of God. The same can be true if they were asked about their view of Jesus Christ, but is that enough? Is it enough to give God the mental nod. That our mere acknowledgement of His existence would grant us His favor and eternal salvation. Let me give you a personal example. I believe in Wachovia Bank. I also believe in Bank of America. Now, It is true that I am a believer in both, no one in their right mind would deny their existence. However, my belief in Bank of America goes further in that I have placed all my earnings and savings into their hands. I have a different type of belief. One that has moved from mere assent, to faith and trust. Where are you at with God today? Are you willing to just accept his existence, or are you going to open an account and deposit all your sins, all your guilt, and all your fears.

According

Eph. 1:4 - 6 (NKJV)

just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

Five times in this chapter, Paul uses the word according or some variation of it. It shows up 15 times in this letter to the Ephesian Saints. It is a nail that he hammers away at constantly. Driving home the point that everything that happens in the world is in accord. Webster defines accord as the coming to agreement. The root word here from the Latin ad-cord, literally means at the heart. It is so comforting to know that the events in our daily lives are in agreement with the heart of God. That everything that takes place, good or bad is according to the pleasure of His will. That gives me confidence for the daily.

Every

Eph. 1:3 (NKJV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ

Do you remember going to the candy store as a child? Everything looked so colorful and sweet that it was hard to choose which one. A blessed frustration of wanting everything but having to choose only one. I am glad that our heavenly Father does not send us in with a nickel and 1 minute to make a choice. The day is coming, when we arrive in heavenly places because of our relationship with Christ that we will receive EVERY spiritual blessing that there is. It will not be limited to the ones we know about, it wont be limited for cost or time, each and every one of them is ours to enjoy. So remember when you go about your daily life this Monday, that someday is coming.

Saints

Eph. 1:1 (NKJV)

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:

When reading the mail, it is always important to know who it is addressed to. Many times we fail to take this into account when reading scripture and this often leads to debate, confusion and frustration with the text. I point it out here, because we must understand that the things written were not to the church at Ephesus, but to the saints or more plainly those in the church at Ephesus who were saved people.

The word saint literally speaks of one who is set apart and consecrated to God. It was not used in the modern catholic way until the 14th century. Today it could be reckoned that sainthood is rare and must be bestowed by the church. In reality, it should be the moniker of every believer.

Cheer for the New Orleans Saints! and the Orlando Saints, and the Four Corners Saints. Just find people who are set apart from the world, and consecrated to God and cheer them on. Better yet ask God to help you to go be a saint, or saintly or whatever it takes live set apart in the daily.

Ephesians

Announcement: The next In the Daily will begin on May 14 as we begin our study in Ephesians. The look and format will change a bit from our study in James. Be sure to subscribe to this blog in order that you receive your devotionals in the daily. - Joel