8/10/134- Ephesians 1- Predestined

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he^b predestined us for adoption to sonship^c through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9he^d made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

11In him we were also chosen,^e having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will...(Ephesians 1)

Thoughts: Twice in this passage it mentions the term "predestined" combining each time with the word "chosen in him."  The "pre" part is explained in verse 4- that we were chosen in Him before we had a chance to choose Him- before the creation of the world.  He loved us before we had a chance to respond to His love.  The "destined" part means we have a purpose- a destiny- a reason to exist and a destination.  We were not put here by accident but by the Personal purpose of the Almighty God. We are chosen in Him- not only by Him- but He envelopes us with His choice.  We are a part- a thread in the tapestry of God.  We are part of His plan.  So find peace that God chose you.  Find rest in that God is your help and strength.  It is not that you are somehow better than anyone else.  Before you could do good or bad, He chose you.  God has something for you to do with your life.  Give it fully to Him. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your grace that chooses me and uses me.  Help me to relish in your grace and love. 

Magnet picking up metal through other trash. 

8/9/14- Galatians 6

1Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5for each one should carry their own load. 6Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. (Galatians 6)

Thoughts: This is a passage about how to relate to others.  

1) When someone is in sin- restore, but be careful;

2) Carry each other's burdens. 

3) Do not think too highly of yourself.

4) Test yourself- do not compare yourself

5) Carry your own load- be responsible for yourself. 

6) Share blessings with your teacher/preacher. 

It is important how we relate to each other.  Some principles stand out- being humble, being helpful, being generous. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to be selfless, and caring for you.  

8/8/14 Freedom

1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.13You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh ; rather, serve one another humbly in love. (Galatians 5)''

Thoughts: The illusion is that if we don't believe in Christ and we don't follow Him we get to go our own way- free.  But the truth is we are slaves to something else already- and we may not even know it.  Christ came to set us free from that slavery.  We are slaves to this earth- to be all involved in the temporary, and to think that this life is all there is- so we become short-sighted.  Christ came to tell us that the kingdom of heaven is both here and in the life to come- that we are not slaves to popularity, or to beauty or to the smart or to the earthly powerful.  We are also slaves to sin.  That is we have a natural tendency to be selfish, proud, and tend to bad habits.  Jesus sets us free- so that we are other centered- loving God and neighbor as ourselves.  Jesus sets us free from pride, giving us grace to be humble.  Jesus sets us free from bad habits- allowing us to do good.  It doesn't always make sense.  To the selfish, other-centeredness doesn't make sense.  So the doctors who left families to minister to those with Ebola risking their own lives to do so, are criticized by some as if they were selfish to do this.  Christ sets us free from navel gazing or only being focused on our own area and own families.  

Prayer: Lord, help me appreciate the freedom you give me. 

8-7-14 Galatians 5

16So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever^c you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5)

Thoughts: There is living for the temporary and there is living for the eternal.  There is living for the body (flesh) and living for the spirit. You can live like an animal, or you can live for God.  The person who has the Spirit of Christ in them- cannot continually live for the things of this world.  They would be like a fish out of water.
      What are the things of this world?  They fall into categories of immorality (sexual, drunkeness, orgies), evil emotions (hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy), and false worship (idolatry and witchcraft).  People who do not seek or listen to the Spirit of God pursue such things- and move away from heaven and God. 

But there is a fruit of the Spirit- that shows a different way of life.  The Christian virues stand in contrast.  Hate vs. love; witchcraft vs. joy; hatred vs. peace; patience vs. fits of rage, etc.  The way of God is different from the ways of the world.  The world's ways make sense.  The world's ways fit in well with our animal instincts.  But the Spirit's way is a way of faith- that by its nature does not make worldly sense.  Selfishness is common- universal- usual; but selflessness is not.  The word "holy" applies not only to the Spirit but living for the Spirit.  Today, live for the Spirit of the Creator.  It is a better way. 

Prayer: Help me, Lord, to liv e for you.    

8-6-13- Galatians 4

4But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.^b 6Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,^c Father.” 7So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

8Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 

Thoughts: God sent His Son so that we might become sons.  We are adopted by the Father.  Under the Law, we deserve death.  Under the grace shown in the Son's coming, there is blessing and inheritance.  He came to bring us life and the love of the family of God. The Spirit of Christ dwells in us, and when this Spirit dwells in us by faith, we are adopted into the family of God.  We are no longer then captives, restricted, or slaves to this world.  We are no longer slaves to popularity, governments, polls- those who by nature are not gods.   Instead, we are heirs to heaven. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to be free to love you and follow you to heaven itself.  

8-5-14 Galatians 3

26So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:26-29)

Thoughts: Christ brings all who will come to the Father.  He calls us His brothers and His Father calls us His children.  When we were baptized into Christ's name- the Father sees the Son and not our sinful selves.  I have always liked the great story of Cyrano De Bergerac- who wanted the damsel he loved to see his handsome friend instead of him.  When we are baptized, it is as if we put on Christ's clothes and form. We become one with him in adoption. 
    When we are baptized there is no distinction or differentiation.  There are no different classes or castes of Christians.  Whosoever will can come and drink freely of the water of eternal life.  It doesn't matter if you are male, female, rich or poor, wherever you are from- when we are baptized we are of the same family.  We become heirs of the promises of the father of faith- Abraham. God doesn't care about the earthly wares we have (money, beauty, stuff,) - He cares about what is on the inside.  

Prayer: Thank you Lord, for the opportunity to be your child- a part of your family.

8-4-14 Crucified with Christ

 20I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” (Galatians 2:20, 21)

Thoughts: These verses seem hard to understand, but they are profound and worth thinking about.  To be a follower of Christ means that we no longer live for ourselves- but for Christ.  It is as if our old self has died- our old selfish desires, selfish manipulations, selfish pursuits- and we live for a higher cause- the cause of love and God.  It is as if we are so new that Christ has possessed us.  There are terror movies about demons possessing us- but we forget that God can possess us too.  He can live in us and make us better people.  
The cross means forgiveness, and a way to make up for when we fail.  If we could all earn our way to God forgiveness and the cross mean little.  But we all need God's help, God's forgiveness, God's salvation and God's cross. 

Prayer: Help me, Lord to die to self and live in and through you.