A Life Worthy

Persistence One-a-Day Thursday 2/20/20

Posted on February 20, 2020 by michaelFebruary 20, 2020

I keep asking…(Ephesians 1:17)

That word “Keep” caught my eye this morning.

I was all set to talk about the What Paul prayed, and the Why Paul prayed.

I almost missed the How.

Paul kept praying. He didn’t throw the occasional “Hey, God, please take care of my friends” up to the sky. He was persistent, because these people mattered to him.

I ask myself, “Am I that consistent?”

And, well, you probably know the answer to that.

Now, for those of you among the Beloved who are OCDish–and you know who you are–be careful here. This is not a call to 24/7/365 intense, ignore-everything–and–pray-till-your-brain-explodes-then-feel-guilty-because-you-stopped-praying-to-clean-up-the-mess-your-brain-made-when-it-exploded kind of prayer. You may wanna just close your eyes, take a deep breath, and remember that God adores you. This is a reminder for the rest of us–those who are more ADD than OCD–to keep asking. Be like the widow of Luke 18, who kept asking until she received what she asked for. Be like Dory, only with prayer, and without the amnesia.

Yeah, no–just be like the widow.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

Thankful One-a-Day Wednesday 2/19/20

Posted on February 19, 2020 by michaelFebruary 19, 2020

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers(Ephesians 1:15-16).

I like this.

I gotta remember this.

See, I pray for my friends–not enough, but I do pray for them. Usually, I’m praying that God will bless them, encourage them, help them through tough times, that kinda thing.

Very rarely do I stop to thank God that they are saved.

Today I will. Today I focus my prayers on thanking God that he has chosen these people, that he has called them to be his own, that they are his and he is theirs. I thank God that he has placed them in my life, in large ways or small. I thank him for the way they bless and love and serve as an example for me.

I will be praying for you, today. Whether or not we’ve ever met, the simple fact that you’re reading this makes you a blessing in my life. You provide me with a reason to rant and ramble, with the possibility that my words might, on occasion, bless a few people. You are my ministry, and I thank God for you.

Close your eyes–not until you’re done reading this–and let God bring to mind the people he has blessed you with. Look at those faces–such as they are–and thank God that he has chosen them, that he decided Heaven would be incomplete without them.

As it would be incomplete without you.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved

His Glory One-a-Day Tuesday 2/18/20

Posted on February 18, 2020 by michaelFebruary 18, 2020

Having heard, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory (Ephesians 1:14).

His glory

Not mine

Not because of what I’ve done, but

because of who he is, despite what I’ve done.

It begins

and it middles

and it ends

with Him.

Today is a new day, Beloved. Breathe deeply and praise him this morning.

He deserves it.

Happy Tuesday

Redemption One-a-Day Monday 2/17/20

Posted on February 17, 2020 by michaelFebruary 17, 2020

Having heard, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession…(Ephesians 1:14).

It won’t be forever.

It might feel like forever,

but

it won’t be forever.

The day will come.

You will be

Redeemed

Restored

Ransomed

Rescued

Rehabilitated

Raptured

and other “R” words I can’t think of at the moment.

Hold tight to your inheritance, and take heart, Beloved.

Happy Monday

Love One-a-Day Friday 2/14/20

Posted on February 14, 2020 by michaelFebruary 14, 2020

…God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

It’s Valentine’s Day, right?

OK, so let’s talk love.

Forget the hearts and flowers. Forget the candy.

OK, remember candy. Candy is good. But set it aside for the moment.

Real love sacrifices. Real love gives, even when there is no reasonable expectation of a return on the investment. Real love sees you at your worst, and does not turn away.

While we were still sinners. While we were totally unworthy and unlovable. Beyond pot bellies and vanishing hairlines. Beyond bad hair and no makeup. While we were steeped in darkness, inside and out, Jesus died for us.

For you.

Want him to prove his love?

He did. We call it the Cross.

When I write these One-a-Days, I often call you “Beloved.” I’m not putting the moves on you, nor am I trying to be J. Vernon McGee. I’m praying, along with Paul, that you, “May…grasp how high and long and wide and deep is the love of Christ.”

In the Song of Songs, God gives us a picture of the love between a man and a woman. Beyond that, though, he paints a picture of Christ’s love for his Church.

He calls the Church his Beloved.

He calls you his Beloved.

And so you are.

Happy Valentine’s Day, Beloved.

Deposit One-a-Day Thursday 2/13/20

Posted on February 13, 2020 by michaelFebruary 13, 2020

Having heard, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance…(Ephesians 1:13-14).

I love that God understands us.

He knows that we get a little twitchy when we have to wait for more than about thirty seconds for anything. He knows, he understands, and so he gave us a deposit–just a little taste of our inheritance.

You know…the Holy Spirit.

He sent a part of himself to live in us, to serve as a reminder of the promise that one day, one unimaginably amazing day, we will be with him completely.

Take a moment today to get quiet and still and let the Holy Spirit remind you who you are…and whose.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

Sealed One-a-Day Wednesday 2/12/20

Posted on February 12, 2020 by michaelFebruary 12, 2020

Having heard, you were marked in him with a seal… (Ephesians 1:13).

The Lord of Everything has claimed you as his own. He has marked you, making it clear to all the universe that you are his.

I gotta tell you, if we were talking about anyone else, we’d call that seriously creepy. I mean, if I told you that I tattooed my wife to show that she belonged to me, or had my kids branded…

But God is not like me.

Feel free to “Amen!” that.

God is not like man. He does not need to prove his power or establish his dominance. His seal protects us, it identifies us, it tells the darkness, “This one is mine. Hands off!” It’s like we’re wearing his ring, or his letterman jacket.

If you’ve had issues with people in your life who were possessive or dominating, then this analogy can make you understandably uncomfortable. But I remind you–God is not a man, insecure and needy and prone to bullying in an effort to control. He is the Lord of the Universe.

He is also the Lord of Love.

And, yes, the Lord of You.

Rejoice that you are his, and he is yours, and that is good.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

Included One-a-Day Tuesday 2/11/20

Posted on February 11, 2020 by michaelFebruary 11, 2020

And you were also included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. (Ephesians 1:13).

You belong.

You’re in the club.

You’re on the team.

You’re one of the cool kids.

Well, maybe we won’t go that far.

Beloved, if you have ever felt excluded, odd man out, on the outside looking in, left out, left over, or overlooked, know this:

You are part of the only truly important club in the history of the world. You’ll get a code name, a club jacket…the works.

So don’t ever worry about fitting in.

You already fit.

You’re already in.

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

Still Chosen One-a-Day Monday 2/10/20

Posted on February 10, 2020 by michaelFebruary 10, 2020

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

There’s that word again.

Chosen

OK, so there’s a theological debate out there. When Paul says “we,” is he talking about all believers, or just the Jews? And if there’s predestination, what about free will? The Bible’s pretty clear that we have to choose Christ, so…?

Beloved, I’m a big believer in keeping things simple. Paul addresses this letter to “The saints, the faithful in Christ Jesus.”

That sounds like all who believe, if you ask me.

Granted, nobody has asked me.

So, while I am always open to being schooled in theology, until someone convinces me otherwise I’m gonna stick with what the words say.

He chose you.

His plan–his perfect, unbeatable, fromthebeginningofalltime plan–includes you.

You–with all your bumps and barnacles–are part of God’s will.

So, take that into your week.

Happy Monday, Beloved.

Adding it Up One-a-Day Friday 2/7/20

Posted on February 7, 2020 by michaelFebruary 7, 2020

And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment–to bring all things in heaven and on earth under one head, even Christ… (Ephesians 1:10).

I like my Study Bible.

It has all kinds of useful information in it.

For example, it tells me that the word Paul used here that is translated head has multiple meanings. It can mean “head,” as in, you know…your head.

It can mean “authority,” which is how I’ve always read this verse. God’s plan is for every knee to bow and every tongue to confess Jesus as Lord.

Amen to that!

The word can also refer to the sum of a column of figures, the reconciling of various numbers that may not seem to relate to one another.

So, Jesus makes a senseless world make sense.

Feeling like life is a little too random, Beloved? Seem like the equation doesn’t balance?

Fear not; in the end, it all adds up

to Him.

Happy Friday, Beloved