Category: Ephesians

All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest,we were by nature objects of wrath (Ephesians 2:3).

Objects of wrath.

It’s just who we were.

Terrifying,

but 

true. 

Beloved, before you confessed with your mouth, before you believed in your heart, you were living life on your own merit.

Which means you were doomed.

That was then.

This is now.

Now, the Lord of Everything has endured that wrath for you.

Now, your many, many sins are forgiven.

Now, you stand clean before Almighty God.

Rejoice, Beloved, for you are not condemned.

Happy Wednesday

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient (Ephesians 2:2) .

At the risk of being repetitive, redundant, and saying the same thing I’ve said before, allow me to point something out.

Those people out there, the ones without Christ, the ones who can make life so very difficult–they are not your enemy.

They are, in fact, being held captive by your Enemy.

They do not need your wrath.

They need rescue.

So, go out there today and be a rescue hero, ya?

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air… (Ephesians 2:2)

You used to live for yourself.

You used to do what you wanted, be who you wanted.

You used to sit on the throne of your own life.

I mean, that’s what you thought.

Paul reminds us that we were never really in charge. That “freedom” that we thought we had was a lie. We served the king of the air, just as surely as if we had been chained. Like inmates in an asylum, we strutted around as if we wore crowns instead of straight jackets.

Toward the end of her life, my grandmother lived in a nursing home. Her dementia caused her to think that she was living on a cruise ship, traveling to exotic places and feasting at the finest tables. We ran with that because…why not? There was no convincing her otherwise, and her fantasy beat her reality by a large margin. Still, it was sad to see someone we loved lost in a lie.

Beloved, you are going to meet people today who are trapped in the lie. They serve the king of the air, though they don’t realize it.

Do not mock.

Do not despise.

Have mercy, even as our Lord has mercy, and remember that you once wore those same chains.

And, but for grace, you would wear them still.

Happy Monday, Beloved.

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins… (Ephesians 2:1)

The key word here is were.

You were dead, crushed lifeless by the weight of the sin you chose and the sin that was yours by birthright. You were dead, without life or light or hope or breath.

Your past is death.

Your present? Your future?

Life 

So much life

You have been taken from death and, at great cost, restored to life.

So live this day, Beloved.

Happy Friday

And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way (Ephesians 1:23).

The world is hungry

empty  

hollow 

barren

vain

pointless

purposeless

desolate

But it doesn’t have to be.

You know the One who filled the void

in the cosmos

and in your heart

with light.

And you are his hands and his feet in the world today.

You are full, Beloved.

Spill a little.

Happy Thursday

And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body… (Ephesians 1:23)

We are his body.

So, that’s weird.

We are his physical presence here on Planet Earth. He acts and moves through his church, which is, you know, you and me.

Us

No pressure…

Teresa of Avila–you know, the prominent Spanish mystic, Roman Catholic saint, Carmelite nun and Counter Reformation author–

Which Teresa of Avila did you think I was talking about?

Anyway, Teresa wrote a poem that is compelling and frightening and hopeful all at once. Here ‘tis:

Christ has no body but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Yours are the eyes with which he looks

Compassion on this world,

Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,

Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.

Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,

Yours are the eyes, you are his body.

Christ has no body now but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Yours are the eyes with which he looks

compassion on this world.

Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

What will you do with that today, Beloved?

Happy Wednesday

And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church…(Ephesians 1:22)

It’s not only that he’s in charge of us.

He’s in charge for us.

God placed his only Son over his most precious creation,

to guard us

and guide us

and bring us home to the Father.

Imagine if the Father had gone a different direction. I mean, he could have put me in charge. I guarantee you, that would have resulted in a lot less grace, and a lot more lightening.

Probably better not to imagine, after all.

Happy Tuesday, Beloved

And God placed all things under his feet…(Ephesians 1:22)

All of it

Even the–

Yep, even that.

I tell you, on a day like today, when I have a million things to do and no time to do them and I kinda feel like bleaugh and I have to go to work anyway…

I really need that reminder.

And I’m thinking you probably do, too.

So consider yourself reminded, Beloved.

Happy Monday

That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come (Ephesians 1:19-21).

That power

the power that raised Christ

and destroyed death

forever 

is the same power 

that is at work 

in you

today.  

Now…go take care of business.

Happy Friday, Beloved

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe (Ephesians 1:18-19).

Your heart awake

your hope alive

your future secure

all because of

His power

at work

in you

for you

through you.

How can you not rejoice today?

Happy Thursday, Beloved.