Come On Up One-a-Day Thursday  5/10/18

A life worthy

In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12).

Beloved, you don’t have to cower in the shadows of his glory, hoping someone better, stronger, more worthy than you might spill of drop of righteousness that you can lap up before it evaporates.

You can approach boldly.

You belong here.

You are not a slave, but a child. Run to your Father’s house, for it is your home. Let him scoop you up in his arms and hold you, because he loves you.

That’s what daddies do.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

His Purpose, His Plan One-a-Day Wednesday  5/9/18

A life worthy

His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord (Ephesians 3:11).

His purpose

Accomplished by…him

So, what is our responsibility in this, Beloved?

To receive

That’s all…that’s enough…that’s everything.

Receive, Beloved.

Happy Wednesday

On Display Tuesday  5/8/18

A life worthy

His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms… (Ephesians 3:10)

Really, God?

The Church?

I mean, far far far far far be it from me to question God’s wisdom, but does he really expect the Church to be the display of his great plan to the cosmos?

The Church. That’s us. You realize that, don’t you?

All the angels and heavenly whatnots are  looking at us to see the glory of his salvation worked out.

No pressure there.

Seriously–doesn’t God realize how pathetic the Church is? How we bicker and fight and whine and cheat and fumble and fail and fall?

I mean, of course he does, but still…

Beloved, I don’t see why God would choose to put us on display, knowing what he knows about us, but then I don’t understand a lot of what God does.

Which is fine, I guess.

The thing to remember is, God’s not worried about it. He isn’t concerned that somehow you or I or the Church in general is going to spoil his plans. In fact, I’m guessing that the interpersonal crunchiness that is so much a part of us is at the heart of his plan, as he shows the tremendous power of his grace over our own weakness.

Or something like that.

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

Grace Given   Monday 5/7/18

A life worthy

Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things  (Ephesians 3:8-9).

What grace has been given to you, Beloved?

The grace to teach?

The grace to learn?

The grace to speak?

The grace to listen?

The grace to encourage?

The grace to challenge?

The grace to fight?

The grace to heal?

The grace to stand?

The grace to fall

and

rise?

Whatever God has given you to do…

Happy Monday, Beloved.

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.