Less Than the Least One-a-Day Friday  5/4/18

A life worthy

Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people…  (Ephesians 3:8)

But Paul…

For corn sake, you’re…you’re Paul! Paul the Apostle. Whaddaya mean you are less than the least of God’s people?

Maybe Paul knew his own past, Beloved. Maybe he knew his own heart. Maybe he knew that whatever he looked like on the outside, inside he continued to struggle with thoughts and emotions and deeds that were downright not right.

And yet, he did not let that stop him  from serving his Lord, did he? And it certainly did not stop his Lord from using Paul, did it?

Beloved, don’t think too highly of yourself–you know you.

Beloved, don’t think too lowly of yourself–you are the child of the King.

How about this: don’t think too often of yourself. That leaves more room for God to work, anyway.

Happy Friday, Beloved.

Mystery One-a-Day Wednesday  5/2/18

A life worthy

In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,  which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.  This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 3:4-6).

We’re in the club!

This news would have been mind-shattering to the Jews of Paul’s day. They had been taught for generations that Israel was God’s chosen people, the nation of promise. All others were…

Other.

But now Paul tells them that Israel is not simply a matter of geography or bloodline. It is a call of the heart. And God, in his incomprehensible mercy, has called the unlikeliest of hearts.

Hearts like yours

and

mine.

Rejoice, Beloved!

Happy Wednesday

Parenthesis Tuesday  5/1/18

A life worthy

–Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly (Ephesians 3:2).

I do this.

I’ll be in the middle of telling someone a story, and then I’ll think of some important piece of information that they really oughta know if they’re going to fully appreciate the story, so I’ll go off on a little verbal side trip to supply the needed facts.

Of course, sometimes my side trips are so long that I forget my original destination.

That’s what Paul does here. Not the forgetting part, but the side trip part. Mid-sentence, he realizes  that some of his readers may not be familiar with his background, so he pauses to bring everybody up to speed. I love this. It reminds me that, though Paul’s writing was inspired and directed by the Holy Spirit, it came through the conduit of an actual real human being.

God working through his people, with all the quirks that entails.

Anyway, somehow Paul manages to drop the bomb that God has communicated the greatest secret of the universe directly to him while sounding humble about it. He speaks of grace, and revelation, and points out that this magnificent truth was given for their benefit.

Meaning our benefit

Meaning your benefit

I gotta tell you–I probably would have found some way to take at least a little credit here.

Which is probably why Paul is Paul, and I am Michael.

God loves you. He crafted the grandest plan in all of forever to bring you to himself, and then he shared the secret with you.

Because he loves you–did I say that already?

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

Prisoner Monday 4/30/18

A life worthy

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles…(Ephesians 3:1)

Paul wasn’t being metaphorical.

He was actually in prison.

Why? For preaching the Gospel.

That’s why Paul says he’s the prisoner of Christ, because he was following the call God had placed on his life, out of love for God and for those who deeply need God in their lives.

No, Beloved, the question isn’t whether you could endure prison for Christ’s sake. Of course you could.

The question isn’t whether you’re doing enough for him. Of course you’re not. You never will. Grace, remember?

No, the question is, are you content to live in obedience to him, whatever that may look like? I am quite sure that Paul’s life was not what he had envisioned, but it was the life he embraced, because it was the life he was led to by the One who knew him best and loved him most.

What is he leading you to? Are you following?

Happy Monday, Beloved.

Dwelling One-a-Day Friday  4/27/18

A life worthy

And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit  (Ephesians 2:22).

He lives in you

and me

and you and me.

You know that, right?

It’s pretty cool,

and

kind of scary.

I mean, what if I’m not up to His standards?

Well, guess what, Beloved?

I’m not…and neither are you.

No offense, but apart from grace we wouldn’t be fit for a roach motel, spiritually speaking.

But…

we are not apart from grace.

We are all mixed up in it, and the Builder is applying it liberally to his project.

Sorta like spiritual bondo–only it heals instead of just covering up.

So don’t worry about whether the house is worthy of the One who lives there.

Let the contractor take care of that.

You…you just keep the door open.

Happy Friday, Beloved.

Temple One-a-Day Thursday  4/26/18

A life worthy

In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord (Ephesians 2:21).

In him

Not just for him–though it is for him.

Not just to him–though it is to him.

In him

So…we are a temple to God, and the temple is in God, and Christ himself, who is God, is the foundation stone of the temple.

I don’t totally get it,

but

I like it.

I also like that, when you admire a building, you are admiring the entirety of it, not the individual pieces. I mean, you don’t usually hear someone exclaim, “Wow! Look at that brick!” or, “Hey, what a great slab of marble!” or, “Now that there’s a 2X4 if’n ever I seed one!”

Which means that if I, as brick #94738274, am a little wobbly or chipped or cracked or rough, it’ll be OK. I’m still part of something truly amazing.

I’m not that important

and yet

I’m absolutely essential.

Yeah, I don’t totally get it,

but

I like it.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

Cornerstone One-a-Day Wednesday  4/25/18

A life worthy

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20).

The cornerstone is the one that determines the placement of every other stone in the building.  Without it, there is no beginning, no structure, nothing at all.

Jesus is the One you build your life

your hopes

your dreams

your world

on.

Solid as a rock, and then some.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

Firm Foundation Tuesday  4/24/18

A life worthy

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets…(Ephesians 2:20)

We’re so silly.

We, as a society, have this tendency to throw out and disregard anything that we deem “old.”

Music

Fashion

History

People

It’s a pride thing, really. We find it threatening to think that something may have been excellent before we ever even existed. It’s just so hard to imagine that some things might have been just dandy fine without our input.

So, we go for new-new, shiny-shiny.

When it comes to theology, I mostly go old school.

Take a moment this morning to thank God for those who have gone before us, who lived and taught and sacrificed and suffered and even died for the sake of the Gospel, so that you and I can read pithy devotions on our mobile devices. Some of the names are famous, and some we’ll never know this side of glory, but they all have served to bring Truth to a lost and dying world.

And just maybe, if the Lord tarries, our names will one day be on that list.

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

Family Monday 4/23/18

A life worthy

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household…(Ephesians 2:19)

You belong.

No longer alone

No longer an outsider

You are family.

Now, listen, families aren’t always perfect.

They squabble.

They battle.

They include OCD firstborns

and spoiled babies

and angst-ridden middle kids.

Then there’s the occasional psycho cousin that you try to avoid.

You know, unless that’s you.

But here’s the deal: whether you grew up in Mayberry or in Dysfunction Junction, you now belong to a family that is eternal.

We have a perfect Father, a righteous big brother, and forever to get it right.

I can’t wait to see the whole family photo.

Happy Monday, Beloved.