A Life Worthy

Dwelling One-a-Day Tuesday 1/7/25

Posted on January 7, 2025 by michaelJanuary 7, 2025

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 covered in 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 Tuesday, Beloved.

Temple One-a-Day Monday 1/6/25

Posted on January 6, 2025 by michaelJanuary 6, 2025

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 seen 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. Something holy to the Lord of the Universe.

I’m not that important

and yet

I’m absolutely essential.

Yeah, I don’t totally get it,

but

I like it.

Happy Monday, Beloved.

Cornerstone One-a-Day Friday 1/3/25

Posted on January 3, 2025 by michaelJanuary 3, 2025

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 upon whom you build your life

your hopes

your dreams

your world.

Solid as a rock, and then some.

Happy Friday, Beloved.

Firm Foundation One-a-Day Thursday 1/2/25

Posted on January 2, 2025 by michaelJanuary 2, 2025

And now…back to Ephesians!

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 Thursday, Beloved.

All New One-a-Day Wednesday 1/1/25

Posted on January 1, 2025 by michaelJanuary 1, 2025

If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

New day

New year

New you

We serve a God of second chances and new beginnings. No matter what 2024 looked like, it is gone. Today you begin again. If last year was one of triumph, great—remember and rejoice, but don’t live there. Press on. If last year was one of failure, or pain, or loss—praise God for this new beginning.

The image in my head this morning is of the land after a snowfall, when nothing has yet touched the surface of the snow. It is fresh, clean, and waiting.

So…go make snow angels.

Happy 2025, Beloved of Christ.

One Thing One-a-Day Tuesday 12/31/24

Posted on December 31, 2024 by michaelDecember 31, 2024

One thing I ask of the Lord; this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple (Psalm 27:4).

Just to be with God. Do you ever want that? Do you ever have those moments when you get past wanting from God and just want God?

I have to admit; for me, those moments are too few and too far between.

But then, the New Year is about fresh starts and making changes, isn’t it?

How many things are you asking God for in 2025, Beloved?

How about just one?

This one.

Happy Year’s End, Beloved.

What Fear? One-a-Day Monday 12/30/24

Posted on December 30, 2024 by michaelDecember 30, 2024

The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)

We are coming up on the New Year. When you think about it, it’s just an arbitrary date on an imaginary calendar. I mean, it’s not like Wednesday will actually look different from today. Sky will probably still be blue, grass most likely still green, gravity seems to have remained fairly constant…

You get the picture.

We look at the New Year as a time to start fresh, to begin (or re-begin) new things. We wonder about the future and what it will hold for us. What opportunities await us in this new year? What challenges? What treasures lie in our paths, and what monsters lie in wait? It can be an exciting time—and a scary time.

As you gird your loins for the days ahead, ask yourself the same question David asks: With God as my light, my life, my protector, what can possibly frighten me?

Happy Monday, Beloved.

Zeal One-a-Day Friday 12/27/24

Posted on December 27, 2024 by michaelDecember 27, 2024

He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:7)

Not through political activism.

Not through military strength.

Not through personal charisma.

Not through any power of man.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Chew on that today.

Happy Friday, Beloved

Big Government One-a-Day Thursday 12/26/24

Posted on December 26, 2024 by michaelDecember 26, 2024

Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. (Isaiah 9:7)

I’m not really a fan of big government. More of a low taxes, leavemealoneandlletmelivemylifewithoutyouconstantlytellingmewhattodoandtryingtoprotectmefrommyself kind of guy.

But His government? I’m all in.

You know, the best form of government would be a truly benevolent dictatorship. We get someone in power who knows what’s best, wants what’s best, and is willing and able to do what’s best without regard for lining their own pockets.

The problem, of course, is that people are people, and since even the best of men and women tend to be sin-encrusted narcissists, that kind of rule is just not possible.

Outside of Christ.

One day Jesus will rule here on Earth, in the flesh. We will get someone in power who knows what’s best, wants what’s best, and is willing and able to do what’s best without regard for lining his own pockets. His reign will go on and on and just get better and better.

Until then, we can know his government in our hearts and lives.

If you belong to Jesus, his peace, his power, his rule in your life is growing each day. Oh, you may not feel it all the time, but it’s happening.

Chew on this today: are you allowing Christ to govern your life, or are you getting in his way?

Happy Thursday, Beloved

Prince of Peace One-a-Day Wednesday 12/25/24

Posted on December 25, 2024 by michaelDecember 25, 2024

Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

We know him by many names.

Jesus Christ

Alpha

Omega

Emmanuel

I Am

Lamb of God

Prince of Peace

Mighty God

Light of the World

The Bright Morning Star

Wonderful Counselor

The Amen

Man of Sorrows

Lion of the Tribe of Judah

The Word

The Author and Finisher of Our Faith

Bread of Life

Living Water

God calls him by another name, the name which is above all names.

Son.

And here’s something really crazy. Because of Christ’s sacrifice, do you know what God now calls us?

Yes, you do.

How can that be? What can that mean?

Chew on that today.

Merry Christmas, Beloved