Relationships

Eph. 1:3

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you.

 

What an example of love and fellowship! Paul initially thanked his God for them whenever he remembered them. As it should be but often isn't, his default was thankfulness. I know and care for the believers that are in my body, but can I say I thank God for them when I think of them? My life is often focused on my family relationships, but still do I even thank God for them when I think of them? What a great lens with which to view personal relationships! Perhaps there would be less interpersonal strife and indifference if the people that God has sovereignly placed in my life would instantly trigger thankfulness. I should be thankful for people, fellowship, and relationships not just for things! Did Paul just think or even verbally express this thankfulness? No, His thankfulness was housed in his prayer life. How could he feel so strongly about these people? First, it was because they were partners in the gospel with him. Their focus and their objectives were centered around the proclamation of the gospel. A focus like this grounds the relationship on the eternal rather than the temporal. When Jesus is what bonds, what is weak and fleshly becomes strong and spiritual.

 

Secondly, Paul stated that they were in his heart, for they all were partakers with him of grace. Once again the relationship was based on the eternal, on the great grace God imparted to them through His Son. Such grace is the believer's sufficiency given by an all-powerful God. I can no longer operate in weakness because His power is within me. When this grace and thankfulness are resident within my heart and life, then like Paul, I will yearn for others with the affection of Christ Jesus. Paul's affections had been transformed. As a believer, his affections were replaced by Christ's affections. His fleshly yearning for the pride of life, the desires of the eyes, and the desires of the flesh had been defeated and replaced with a yearning for believers centered on thankfulness and the great grace and strength of God. How glorious is this!

 

It really makes me think of my relationships with my local body of Christ. How many times have people attended my church and then left because it was too unfriendly,  the music was not quite right, was too small, or did not meet their needs? But do I ever hear people say that they can worship here because we are all grace-filled and united as partners in the gospel? Or for that matter, what about me? How often have I felt unnoticed and lonely? Is it because I am thinking with my fleshly desires and expectations instead of being focused on the partnership we have in the spread of the gospel? Am I thankful and rejoicing at the grace we all experience in common?   Perhaps it is because the visitors as well as members are still operating in in the flesh where relationships never quite meet the expectations. Am I wanting the same friendships the world has but with a twist of Christ? Sobering thought!

 

Paul's great love for these people was nurtured by prayer. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. If I prayed this consistently for my self and for my fellow believers, I think my relationships would be vastly different. Talk would no longer be about trivial pursuits but about the gospel, abounding love, approving what is excellent, being filled with the fruit of righteousness. Am I nurturing the relationships that God has placed in my life? Am I others focused and not self-absorbed?

 

Father,

I confess that many times my relationships do not resemble this pattern. Draw me closer to You and fill me with grace so that I can reach out to others as you would have me. Help me live for Your glory and with Your priorities.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Even to Old Age

Is. 46:4

Even to your old age I am He, and in gray hairs I will carry you, I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.

 

In chapter 45, Isaiah clearly stated that God was, is, and always will be sovereign in blessing and in calamity. In ch. 46 God spoke directly to Jacob (Israel) saying, Listen to me...you who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; Even to your old age I am He, and in gray hairs I will carry you, I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save. Israel was God's chosen nation and people, and their lives were intricately woven with His. Since I am a chosen one as well, and since God knitted me together in my mother's womb...and saw my unformed substance; and in God's book...the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them were written. Yes, I am one whose life is intricately woven with God. What He has said to Israel, He says to me. What an assurance that He is there with me in old age and in gray hair! Since He made me, He will bear, carry, and save me! Even if my culture deems old age a time of uselessness, God does not. I am as precious to Him today as I was before the foundation of the world. How exciting! What an unbelievable truth! My days down to the smallest detail are God ordained. How can I complain and even rebel at what He has chosen for me?

 

God continued saying,  Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind...remember the former things of old...I am God, and there is no other, I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose...I have spoken and I will bring it to pass, I have purposed, and I will do it. How powerful! The sovereign God of the universe who put all things in their place, has spoken to me. He has given me favor with Him, yet it is up to me to obey, listen, and remember. I must know above all else that His word will stand, and His purpose will be carried out. I must check my heart so He can not say of me, Listen to me, you stubborn of heart, and you who are far from righteousness. How sad to be chosen of God and still be far from righteousess. My righteousness dwells within me in the person and work of Jesus. Eph. 6 reinforces these same thoughts. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. He has given me all I need to stand, the indwelling Son, the Holy Spirit, the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, and the helmet of salvation.  I must put it on and put off my flesh going forward in the power that only He gives!

 

Father,

I know You are sovereign and what You have said and purposed will be. Give me Your grace so that I might have a soft heart, a broken and a contrite spirit before You. Be in my mind. Tune up my ears so that I might hear all the leading and prompting of the Spirit.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Sovereign God

Is. 45:9-10

Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?' or 'Your work has no handles?' Woe to him who says to a father, 'What are you begetting? or to a woman, "With what are you in labor?'

 

God declared emphatically that He is sovereign over all, even heathen nations and kings, specifically Cyrus. I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me. It matters not whether the king or the nation knows God, because sovereignty is from the top down, God to man. Not only does He know them by name, but He uses them for His purposes.

 

I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no god. I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. What a great statement! It didn't change any part of God's sovereign nature or power that Cyrus and his nation worshipped false gods. God's declaration soundly developed this unchanging truth. He is the only God! Just because people deny His existence  doesn't alter or diminish God, His purposes, or His truth. Even though Cyrus does not acknowledge God, He is equipped by God to do His bidding and to accomplish His purpose, that people may know and see His great power.

 

I form the light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things. God is creator of all, and as Creator and sovereign, He makes well-being (blessings) and calamity (trials, tribulation, sickness, disease, plague, etc). God does it all! How confusing to some people! Many say, How can a loving God do such things? Yes, He is a loving God but also a just God! His purposes operate through all time not just the speck of time that a person lives. But for the believer, He says that all things He does are for his or her good. Even the negative will have as its conclusion a positive result.

 

 

Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?' or 'Your work has no handles?' Woe to him who says to a father, 'What are you begetting? or to a woman, "With what are you in labor?' It is not for humanity to strive against God or to question what He has done, is doing, or will do. The conclusion to all of this is; There is no other god besides me, a righteous God, and a Savior; there is no besides me. Even though Israel was His chosen people, He sent calamity into their lives because they whored after the idols of heathen nations. He used those very heathen nations to capture and enslave them. This is the sovereign God that I love and worship. I must look carefully at my life. Am I pursuing idols of my world? Am I valuing worldly things above Him?

 

Father,

You are so powerful! Shape my vision so that I see Your hand in all the circumstances of my life.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Imitators of God

Eph. 5:1-2

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

 

After concluding his teaching on the 'put off /put on', he emphatically states, Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. The logical conclusion, in light of all the believer has put off and put one, would be to imitate God since He is the source of faith and grace and the One who can make such a life a reality. Since Christ indwells us, we must walk in the same love that He gave us when He sacrificed Himself for our salvation. 

 

Following this, Paul draws more contrasts. First he says that no sexual immorality, impurity, covetousness, filthiness, foolish talk, or crude talking must be evidenced but instead thanksgiving. These behaviors should not even be named among saints since they are entirely out of place. But why thanksgiving? Perhaps it is because a thankful heart is a contented heart, a heart not seeking fulfillment in evil things, but a heart resting totally in what God has provided. Paul warns believers that those who participate in immorality, impurity, and covetousness have no place in the kingdom of God. Why would a believer want to do things that were totally abhorrent to God and to the indwelling Christ? If he did, is he truly a believer at all?

 

As children of the light no longer of the darkness, believers must walk in this light, for the fruit of light is found in all that is good, right, and true. The constant light in the believer's life is Jesus. As believers try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord, Paul takes much of the mystery out of it by continuing to teach this life-style. Take no part in the works of darkness, but instead expose them. This is an extension of the believer's commitment. Not only does the believer resist the darkness and refuse to participate, but now he must expose these works. Definitely not the road to popularity!

 

Look carefully, walk in wisdom not in darkness but in light. Make the best use of time because the days are evil. Don't waste the time that God has given us by participating on empty activities, but be involved in the work of the Lord and in understanding His will. Don't be drunk with wine which is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit. This spirit-filled life is one of speaking psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making heart-felt melodies to the Lord. Give thanks always for everything. And to sum up all this teaching, Paul states,  And submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. This walk in the light, in His love, and in the Spirit is all encompassing. If I were to live like this, I would have no time left for foolish, worldly activities. When Satan tempts, all I would have to say is, No Time! No times for darkness, but full-time for the Light! What a life I have been called to live! What a Savior who indwells me and fills me with His grace! What a Spirit who indwells me directing my every step!

 

Father,

Teach me more each day how to apply all these commands. Make my walk and my life be honoring to You. This is my desire!

In Jesus name,
Amen

Put Off and Put On

Eph. 4:20-24

But that is not the way you learned Christ--assuming that you have heard about Him and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to the former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

 

 

Here Paul develops the put off and put on way of life. Believers are to live like they have learned Christ leaving behind the former life with all of its attitudes and actions. That life was corrupt through deceitful desires, futile in mind and thought, darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God, ignorant because of hardened hearts, callous, given over to sensuality, and greedy to practice impurity. This is not the way of Christ! Instead, believers are to be renewed in the spirit of the mind, and part of that renewal is living in true righteousness and holiness. Certainly, these two approaches to life are vastly different and at odds with one another. To clarify this principle, Paul develops some practical, specific areas and contrasts them with the old life. 

• since lying put off, believers should speak the truth since Christ is the Truth. 
• instead of anger consuming your life, don't let the sun go down on your anger. Make relationship be honoring to Christ.
• instead of stealing, work honestly with your own hands and share what you have with others.
• instead of corrupting talk, speak what is edifying and fits the occasion giving grace to those who hear.
• don't grieve the Holy Spirit who is your seal of redemption, but listen and respond to His promptings.
• instead of bitterness, wrath, clamor, and malice, be kind to one another, tenderhearted, and forgiving as God in Christ forgave you.

What a contrast! Christ living in and through me must be evident and visible in all that I do. If I hang on to old, worldly behaviors, I am grieving the Spirit who indwells me.

 

Father,

Give me grace and strength so that I might put off lingering fleshly behaviors and thought. Help me put on Your grace and show me how to manifest it in what I do and how I live.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Walk Worthy

Eph. 4:1-2

I therefore, a prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 

 

Paul is urging believers to walk worthy of their calling. In my thinking urging carries with it a sense of  of deep emotion, concern, and timeliness. It needs to be done now! But how do believers walk worthy if salvation is all of grace? And what does it mean to walk worthy?

 

Paul developed walking working as first beginning with the personal qualities of humility, gentleness, patience, love, and peace. On many levels, these are nearly impossible for man, but the key is grace, grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Christ was grace and truth. In His death He gave those who believe a measure of grace, a measure that supplies the believer with the strength and endurance to walk worthy.

 

Christ gave grace to all believers, but He also gave a special calling to those who were apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teacher. Their function was to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ. This statement solidifies the need for church, the body of Christ, and for shepherds and teachers. The shepherd/teacher/pastor presents  the Word so that believers might obey, grow, and build up the body of Christ. Responding to this teaching is a mayor part of walking worthy. So then individuals are to be involved with the body and to be taught by the shepherd so that their will be unity among the body.

 

 This equipping continues until the entire body of Christ attains to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer by children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Walking worthy is not just personal character, but it is also the strength and wisdom to spot error or false doctrine. It is being a mature believers and not a child easily influenced and exploited. How glorious to grow into the stature of the fullness of Christ!

 

Rather , speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ. Instead of being children exploited by the current fad of religion, believers are to grow into Christ. We are to be like Him because He indwells each one of us and should shine out through us. A major evidence of this relationship is speaking the truth in love. Not criticizing or attacking others who differ from us on matters of personal interpretation, but speaking only what is true, only what Jesus would say. He is the Truth! So whatever I do, say, or feel should be evidence that I am growing in Christ. His indwelling me and His great gift of grace are the only way that I can walk worthy.

 

Father,

Thank You Lord for giving me the gift of You Son who lives and indwells me. Grow me up to the measure of the fullness of Christ. Teach me what it truly means and how it will change my life.

 

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

 

The Eternal Purpose

Eph. 3:11-13

This was according to the eternal purpose that He has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in Him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

 

What a great statement of the sovereignty of God! Paul explained that he was made a minister through the grace of God by the working of His power. It was in no way related to Paul's zeal, education, or even his past history. He was to minister to the Gentiles preaching to them the unsearchable riches of Christ and reveal the plan of the mystery hidden for ages, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. To do this he preached the gospel and established churches even when it brought dire personal consequences to his life. Paul's ministry, the establishing of the church, the riches of Christ, Gentile salvation, the mission of the church, and even his suffering were all according to the eternal purpose of God. Paul lived in the reality of a sovereign God, and he wanted the Ephesian believers to do the same. If anyone had a cause to doubt this fact, it would be Paul. He suffered so much and in so many different ways, but his faith in a sovereign God was his constant motivation to press on for the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 

For this very reason he bowed his knees before the Father...that according to the riches of His glory He would grant them to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in their inner being. Paul's concern was for them not for himself, but that they would live in the full understanding of the sovereignty of God and in the full strength that God offers to His children so that Christ would dwell in their hearts through faith. He wanted them to live out the fulfillment of this great mystery! He prayed for them to be rooted and grounded in love, so that they would have the strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that they might be filled with all the fullness of God. What a prayer!  What an example of intercession!

 

Paul concluded his prayer by saying, Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Paul placed his petitions for these believers right back into the eternal purpose and sovereign plan of God. He knew that all circumstances were according to the power at work within himself and all believers. What a way to live! Not my will but yours, O Lord!

 

Father,

Teach me to live in the full scope of Your sovereign will and purpose. Show me how to see all circumstances as coming from You so that I can embrace them and rejoice in them even when they include suffering and frustration.

In Jesus name,

Amen