December 16th, 2009

Ephesians 1:4c

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. Ephesians 1:4

Mmmm…Syrup

One of the funniest stories I have of when my kids were growing up was the time I caught My (then) youngest son sneaking a midnight snack. I was just dozing off and heard a noise coming from outside my room. Knowing that all the kids were asleep (or at least should have been) I got up to investigate. Silently I crept into the kitchen to see my little 3 year old standing in front of the open refrigerator. He was so focused on all the food he didn’t even hear me walk up behind him. I just watched as he reached in got the bottle of pancake syrup(!), opened the top and went to pour it in his mouth. As he leaned his head back to take a drink, he saw me towering over him. He quickly threw the syrup into the fridge and said in a small, “I got busted” voice, “Hey, Dad”. I somehow managed to not burst out laughing as I sent him back to his room and told him to never do it again.

God sees all

In a much more serious way, we have been caught doing things we shouldn’t. We aren’t just sneaking midnight snacks but are constantly committing horrible sins against the God who made us. We lie, steal, lust, get angry, and a whole host of other sins every day and God sees every one. But when we come to Christ something amazing happens.

He makes us Holy

He actually gives us His Holiness. Make no mistake, when the Bible says that we are made holy that doesn’t happen by God fixing us so all the unrighteousness in us is now righteous. We were so broken and stained we were unredeemable in and of ourselves. Instead, God clothes us in His Righteousness. In effect, because we have no holiness of our own, he covers us with His own Holiness.

That is amazing

This fact should so amaze us that it inspires and impels us to do good works. Not to earn His salvation or favor, that has already been freely given to us, but out of sheer gratitude for the amazing gift we have received. We didn’t earn our salvation and we certainly can’t unearn it but we can make our Savior look glorious by living lives that are holy and blameless by growing in holiness, serving our fellow man, but mostly by loving the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for making me holy and blameless in your sight. Please help me to show my gratitude by following Your will and glorifying You with my thoughts, words, and actions. Give my the strength to stay close to you every day of my life.
Amen

Filed under: Uncategorized | No Comments »

September 17th, 2009

Ephesians 1:4b

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. Ephesians 1:4

When Were You Saved?

D.A. Carsen says that when he gets to heaven one of the questions he is going to ask is when was he saved. He grew up in a Christian home, made a commitment to Christ as a young boy, then fell away and returned to Christ several times before maturing in the faith enough to be walk closely with Christ. He says, “I know that when I ask this question He will look at me, smile, and say ‘Beloved I knew you from before the foundation of the world’”

How Did All These People Get Here?

No one comes unexpectedly into the Kingdom. God is never shocked at all the new additions to the family each day. Each salvation happens according to His predetermined plan that was laid out before even the first of us fell. The plan to glorify the Son by perfecting a bride for Him existed before the bride came into existence!

If Our Salvation Was Decided, Then It Is Secure

This happens to assure us of the solidness of our salvation. It is not dependent on our works because none of our works are good enough but it is dependent on the free grace of God. A free grace that was given long before we needed it and will extend into eternity future. God has made a plan and all of his plans happen at the perfect time and in the perfect way.

We Are Sons and Daughters, not Employees

Therefore, rest in His plan. Take joy in being a member of His family and work to glorify God in everything you do. Not as an employee of God trying to earn the paycheck of His favor, but as an adopted child to whom grace and favor have been freely poured out.

Dear Lord,
You knew me before the world was made, laid out every day of my life and have already made provision for me each day as I seek Your Kingdom. Give me a heart to rest in you. Free me from the burden of feeling like I have to earn Your love and let me rest in the love You’ve already given.
Amen

Find more at www.arlingtonbelievers.com

Filed under: Uncategorized | No Comments »

September 14th, 2009

Ephesians 1:4a

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. Ephesians 1:4

Playground Politics

Back in grade school one of the most stressful times of the day for me was recess. “Recess?” you say. “Why would recess be stressful?” Every sport we played whether it be dodgeball or kickball or whatever, I was almost assured of being picked last. I was slow, nonathletic and was generally more comfortable with a book than a ball. Time after time it would come down to me, the kid with horrible asthma, and the kid in the wheelchair. Fun times.

Chosen!

Here’s the good news about our relationship with God. He picked us! Sure there was a time when you said yes to Him. Maybe you responded to an altar call, maybe you read a tract and felt compelled to repent and ask Christ to save you, but those things happened only because He chose you first.

Permanently Chosen!

The amazing thing about this truth is that if He chose you He won’t un-choose you. He doesn’t make mistakes or go back on His Word. If you are on His team, you are on forever. There’s no more stress to be had, now you rest in His grace. No more trying to do enough good deeds to earn Heaven, now you do good deeds because Heaven is already yours. This is a wonderful truth that underlines the fact that salvation is in the hands of God from beginning to end.

Today is the Day of Salvation

How do you obtain this wonderful grace? It’s very simple. The Bible says that you are a sinner that has fallen short of the standard that God has set for you. You need to agree with that fact, admit you are a sinner, repent (which means turn away from your sin) and ask Christ to forgive you. No one that has ever done that with a sincere heart has ever been or will ever be turned away from the grace of God.

Dear Lord,
You have given me many blessings and I have done nothing but sin and fall short of your glory. I admit I am a sinner, please forgive me. My life is yours to do with as you please.
Amen

Filed under: Devotional | 1 Comment »

September 11th, 2009

Ephesians 1:3c

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, Ephesians 1:3

Have You Heard the One About…

There is an old story of a man that was being given a tour of heaven by an angel. As the angel was showing all the glorious things of heaven they came across rows of huge warehouses. This piqued the man’s curiosity so he asked the angel what was in the warehouses. The angel shrugged and said “Those were all the blessings that God wanted to give His people but didn’t because they didn’t ask for them”!

Not Quite!

Needless to say that story is false. God is not so weak that He is dependent on us to ask before he can move, and this verse opens up the truth of the situation. He has blessed us with EVERY spiritual blessing in the heavenly places! God has not kept back from us what we need to be close to Him!

God Gives Abundantly

Every spiritual blessing is ours! We have His Word that shows us who He is. We have His Spirit within us to guide and teach us. We have prayer that gives us direct communication with the Father. We can fast to deny the flesh and feed our spirit. We have wealth to give generously and spend wisely so we can show the world that money is not our God. We have a church family to help us to grow in our faith. Our God has kept nothing from us!

Use It or Lose It!

The real problem is that most of us don’t use what we have. Have you read your Bible today? Have you spent time in prayer? When was the last time you fasted? Are you generous and wise with your money? Are you tithing and supporting the work of God in your local church? Take a hard look at your walk with Christ. He has given us every spiritual blessing we need, are you using them?

Dear Lord
Thank you because you have not hidden yourself from me and have blessed with every spiritual blessing I need. If I have been unfaithful in using these blessings, please forgive me. Show me the areas I can improve in and draw my heart close to yours.
Amen

Filed under: Uncategorized | No Comments »

September 9th, 2009

Ephesians 1:3b

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, Ephesians 1:3

Does God Bless Everyone?

God loves to show himself to be a God who blesses His creation. He blesses everyone of us everyday with air to breathe, water to drink, food to eat and many other blessings that are too numerous to list. Jesus makes this clear when He tells us that the Father “makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Mat 5:45) There are blessings that God gives that require no special relationship with Him other than just being part of His Creation.

Those in Christ Receive the Blessings of Adopted Children

However for those “in Christ”, for those who have submitted their will to His and call Him Lord and Master, there are special blessings. We who have been adopted as Sons and Daughters of God get the unbelievable blessing of knowing our Creator intimately. We will never know Him completely because He is infinite but He will lead us in knowing Him more everyday. He gives us His Word in the Bible and then gives us His Spirit to teach us that Word. He gives us Pastors, Teachers and others who come alongside us or stand in authority over us to help us know God more.

Meditate on the Goodness of God

Think of the blessings you have as a Christian that aren’t available to those outside the Faith. Because of our special status as children of God He promises us Everlasting Life, fellowship with our Maker, wisdom when needed, our needs will be met as we seek His Kingdom first, and many more all because we are in Christ.

Worship Your God

Take a minute to thank and worship the God who has blessed you abundantly. He has saved your soul and will keep until the day you die or He returns and that is more than enough but he did not stop there! Every good thing in your life comes from God and He is an abundant giver!

Dear Lord,
Thank you for saving me. Thank you for your continual blessing in my life and sustaining me continually. You have been far more good to me than I deserve and will be nothing but good to me all the days of my life. Continue to watch over my life, meet the needs I have and help me to grow in my relationship with you.
Amen

Find more at www.arlingtonbelievers.com

Filed under: Devotional | No Comments »

September 7th, 2009

Ephesians 1:3a

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, Ephesians 1:3

Early American writer David Thomas once wrote “Unselfish and noble actions are the most radiant pages in the biography of souls.”  We recognize that when someone gives a gift, especially a costly one, it speaks volumes about the character of the giver and how the giver feels about the one to whom the gift is given.  We recognize that the proper response to a gift is gratitude because we did nothing to earn it but it was freely given anyway.

Bless God

In the same way, in response to the free gift of salvation that Paul is about to unpack, his first impulse is to bless the God that saved him.  Paul was always a man who was quick to give praise to his God because of the grace that had been shown to him, the “chief of sinners”.

He Saved Us!

This the only rational response to the love that has been poured on us and all the children of God.  That while we were yet sinners and haters of God, He saved us.  That Christ would lay down his life for his enemies in order to make them His friends is the most amazing fact in all of human history, we would be crazy to not bless God because of it.

Meditate On His Many Blessings

Have you neglected to praise God for his incredible goodness toward you?  Has your heart grown cold to the miracle of salvation that God has blessed you with?  Has the the amazing grown to be commonplace in your life?  If so, take a moment to reflect on the mercies that God has shown you and worship Him.  Bless His Name for His overwhelming goodness toward you and begin to make this a habit.

Deal Lord,
My heart grows cold so easily sometimes.  Help me to live in awe of the cross and your sacrifice for me.  Don’t ever let me neglect to bless you for showing me such kindness and rescuing me before I even knew I needed rescuing.
Amen.

Find more at www.arlingtonbelievers.com

Filed under: Devotional | No Comments »

September 4th, 2009

Ephesians 1:2

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Ephesians 1:2


Greetings From A Friend

Oliver Wendell Holmes once said “There is no friend like an old friend who has shared our morning days, no greeting like his welcome, no homage like his praise.”  There is something heart warming about being greeted by an old friend or receiving a letter from them after a long absence.  It reminds us that we are not alone but have companions to cheer us on in life.


Paul’s Love For The Saints

This is Paul greeting his beloved church and reminding them of the grace and peace given to them.  He wants to make sure they know that the grace of God he shared with them while he was in Ephesus has not diminished with his absence but flows freely from the heart of God.  Paul was a man so focused on making the grace of God known that it came out even in his greetings.

Paul’s Heart Is Always To Glorify God

Paul wasted no words even in the opening of his letter.  I used to have a Pastor that whenever he was asked how he was, he always answered “Blessed and highly favored of the Lord God Almighty.”  Where most would respond with a “fine” or a “good” he took the opportunity to give glory to God and remind the asker of the reality of God.

What Comes Out Of Your Mouth?

Do you waste words?  When given an opportunity to speak to someone are you quick to give God glory or do you focus on yourself?  Do you take the time to remind the people you are greeting of the blessing of knowing God?  Of his grace, mercy, lovingkindness and peace?  Your words are like seeds scattered in the wind, you don’t know where they will end up or what fruit they will bear, so make it good God-centered seed.  Never forsake the opportunity to remind the people you are speaking to of the glory of God!

Dear Lord,
I know I will have to give an account for every idle word I speak.  Help me to bring you glory with every word that comes out of my mouth.  May only what brings you praise and exalts your name come from me.  Thank You.
Amen.

Filed under: Devotional | No Comments »

September 2nd, 2009

Ephesians 1:1d

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Ephesians 1:1


Good Music, Bad Theology


The Christian band Relient K released their album “Five Score and Seven Years Ago” in 2007 and on it included the song “Deathbed”.  Musically this is a beautiful and moving song, theologically though it’s a train wreck.  It tells the story of a man who lives a wretched life of drinking and smoking, who has premarital sex, gets a divorce and generally lives for his own pleasure with no thought to how he is wrecking the lives of those around him. As he is about to die, he is visited by Jesus who says that he will be accepted into Heaven on the basis of a prayer he prayed at some point in the past, presumably as a child.


Bad Theology Always Has Worse Consequences


Have you ever dealt with someone who thought this way?  That they can live their whole life without regard for the next because they said a prayer at an altar.  Now they’ve got “Fire Insurance” and can live without fear because, after all, God is a loving God and would never send one of His children to Hell, right?


Not In Paul’s Letter


Paul puts an end to that kind of thinking right here.  If you are a saint, then you are faithful to Christ Jesus.  In other words, true salvation will always bear fruit in keeping with repentance.  This doesn’t mean that you will be perfect, but you will be faithful.  You will grow in your faith and bear fruit that proves that God has changed you from the inside out and it will be your joy to do so.


Are You “Faithful In Christ Jesus”?


If you have had this kind of mindset, that it didn’t matter how you lived because you said a prayer when you were young, let me encourage you to repent and truly trust in Christ.  He is faithful and will not turn you away.  He will make you a saint and will also ensure your faithfulness while making being faithful your highest joy.

Dear Lord,

If I have taken your precious grace for granted and have lived my own life with no thought to how You would have me live it, I’m sorry.  Please forgive me and restore the joy of my salvation.  Keep me faithful in You, let me grow in the faith and bear the fruit of a repentant heart. Thank You.
Amen

Filed under: Devotional | No Comments »

August 31st, 2009

Ephesians 1:1c

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, Ephesians 1:1


Where do you work?  Does your job require you to be beaten with whips?  Are you forced into shipwrecks?  Do people throw stones at you?  If so, I think most people would recommend you get a different job!


Not Paul

Paul’s outlook on his profession and calling was different.  Even as he looked back on his hardships and looked forward to even more pain, he was still able to say that his job as an apostle was by the will of God.  He was able to endure an inhuman amount of abuse for three reasons.

1.  Christ endured worse.  Even though Paul’s body had undergone an extreme amount of abuse his soul would always be safe, not so with Christ.  Christ’s very soul was tormented because the wrath of God that should have been poured out on us was instead poured out on Him.

2.  What was in front of him was of such value that it made what he was going through to seem like nothing.  Paul could call all that he went through “light, momentary afflictions” because what was in store for him in Heaven, in the presence of Christ was worth so much more.

3.  Paul had a powerful love for people.  To not be an apostle was unthinkable because Paul had such a burden for the lost.  He was desperate to preach the gospel so that all men everywhere would hear, turn from their sins and trust in Christ.


Knowledge gives Hope which leads to Endurance

Paul endured because he knew that he was following God’s will for his life.  Can you say the same?  Do the trials of life seem light and momentary because you are focused on the reward set before you?  Are you able to persevere knowing that the worse that can happen is your body be hurt or killed but that your soul will always be safe in the Father’s hands by the saving work of Christ on the cross?  Do you have such a love for people that you are willing to endure shame or embarrassment if it means being able to share Christ with an unsaved person?  Like Paul, we should be confident that God has us exactly where we need to be and that we are safely in the center of His will for us.  If we are believers, it should be shown to the world in our words and deeds.  Like Paul, our love for people should motivate us to be ambassadors for the King.


Dear Lord,

Let me see the world as you do and let me love people with your love.  I want love for you and love for people to be the main motivating force of my life.  Let me be aware that I am in your will and give me the boldness and power to preach and exalt the name of Christ in everything I do so that the world will see and know who you are.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Find more at www.arlingtonbelievers.com

Filed under: Devotional | No Comments »

August 28th, 2009

Ephesians 1:1b

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, Ephesians 1:1


When asked to describe his job, Steven Spielberg replied “I dream for a living”.  When Paul wanted to give a “in a nutshell” description of his job, he said that he was an apostle of Christ Jesus.  Strong’s tells us that the root of “apostle” means “sent out”.  Paul was saying that he was an ambassador for Christ, His representative on earth.


What did apostle’s do?

The job of the apostle was very simple, they were to establish and grow the church.  The apostle’s were charged to give a first-hand account of who Jesus was, what He did, and what He requires of His creation and people.  The apostle’s were the pioneers, breaking through barriers, establishing new churches, preaching unceasingly about the wonderful things God had done through His Son.  We can trace the spread of our faith back through the ages to Paul and the other apostles.


What about now?

For us, the most important thing to get a hold of is the “of Christ Jesus” part of what Paul said.  We may not be 1st century apostles but we are 21st century believers and whatever our job description we must be sure that it has “of Christ Jesus” at the end of it.  Whether we are a butcher, a baker, or a candlestick maker; whether we are a mother, a father, or a child; whatever we are or however we would give our life’s “job description” we must do all things for the glory of God.  Our jobs are mission fields and everyday brings us a new opportunity to work and to advance the Kingdom of God.  So whatever you do, do it with all your might and as unto the Lord and He will honor your honoring of Him.


Dear Lord,

Everyday I am doing the things I need to do to make a living.  Help me to remember that you are the reason I live and move and you are the source of every blessing I have ever received.  As I go through my day, open my eyes to ways to make you known and show me ways I can honor you.  Let me be someone who is consumed by a love for you and whatever my day brings; let me face it as someone who is “of Christ Jesus”.

In Jesus Name, Amen


Find more at www.arlingtonbelievers.com

Filed under: Devotional | 1 Comment »

Next Page »

  • Donate now!