Ephesians 4

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

 ¹ As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

 ⁷ But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. ⁸ This is why it^[a] says:

   “When he ascended on high,
   he took many captives
   and gave gifts to his people.”^[b]

 ⁹ (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions^[c]? ¹⁰ He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) ¹¹ So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

 ¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Instructions for Christian Living

 ¹⁷ So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. ¹⁹ Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

 ²⁰ That, however, is not the way of life you learned ²¹ when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. ²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

 ²⁵ Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. ²⁶ “In your anger do not sin”^[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold. ²⁸ Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

 ²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

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Day 1: Read the chapter. Journal a personal response to or summary of the chapter. 

There are a lot of suggestions given in this chapter regarding how we are to live as Christians. They sound almost like commands in a way, that we are to adhere to certain rules while living our lives in front of other people. 

No. These attributes are not rules for us to abide by. Christ took those old rules on to himself setting us free from any type of oppression. He took the rules away and gave us freedom through his blood. These attributes will pour out of us naturally when we learn what the person, character, and nature of Christ is all about. When we let him take over our lives, he begins to replace all of our imperfections caused by sin. He is humble, gentle, and patient, and when we live in Christ we inherit his traits.

Day 2: Read the chapter. Identify one or two key verses, and write them out.


Eph 4:1 - As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.


Eph 4:15 - Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.


Day 3:  Read yesterday’s key verses out loud. Journal why you chose them. Rewrite them.


v.1 - Paul is saying here that our decisions make a difference in the lives we live. This is a call of submission to the will of God. If Paul is urging us to live a life worthy of our callings, this means we are able to do the opposite as well; to neglect or possibly even reject our callings. This is significant. This is why I chose verse 1.


Rewritten: As I am in captivity for the sake of the Lord, please be aware of the path our Lord has set out for you; for good, put to use the gifts he has given you. 


v.15 - I picked this verse because I liked it. Straight up.


Rewritten: Rather, letting love pour out from our lives, the body of Christ will become resolute.

Day 4: Read Day 2’s key verses out loud. Journal how they challenge you personally.


v.1 - This verse is calling me to live a life worthy of God's Kingdom. This Kingdom is different than the world we live in now. This Kingdom is ruled by our God who is just, merciful, and graceful; and such is the Kingdom. The world is opposite of what God has laid out for us, and if we are to live lives worthy of His Kingdom this means we are to act in ways the world does not understand. Generosity, love, patience, kindness: the pure form of these qualities is extreme to people who do not know our God. They react negatively to the light because it is darkness that they know so well. Fear, hatred, violence, greed, lust; all of these they will use against God's Kingdom. Since we are citizens of His Kingdom, the world will use their weapons against us, who are bearers of light. It is this life of light bearing that challenges me. Always being against the grain, my flesh just wants to cop out. 


Being with Christ is worth while, completely, but that still doesn't change that fact that getting there is hard work.


V.15 - To become mature is to gain wisdom from failure; the observation of it; or from conquering a task that had never been done personally before. These are all very challenging arenas, requiring time and attention. It is the ability to organize this time that is challenging to me, as I have never lived a life of structure before. So participating in these challenges I do not find to hard, but organizing time enough to participate, this is where I stumble.


Day 5:  Read the key verses again, and then the whole chapter. Journal a personal response or prayer that includes your measurable response to the passage.

We are all members of one another; one body, one Spirit, one church around the globe. Let us be taught by our apostles, prophets, pastors, and teachers so we will become a mature body, measured by the fullness of Christ. A body that acts in accordance with its head. A body that doesn't step on itself, or break away limb from limb; but one that walks one foot in front of the other and reaches for what its eyes see.

Conclusion for Ephesians Chapter Three!

Ten Minute Talks - Everything in Christ Pt3.

Point 1 - V.1a – For this reason...

Paul spent the first two chapters explaining what Christ had done, and is doing in relationship with creation, man, and “the heavenly realms”. Christ brought grace and redemption and enabled the sinner to become a dwelling place for God’s Holy Spirit. It was for these reasons that Saul became Paul. He became a new man, totally reborn; actually a brand new creation, just as new as Adam when God first created him. His new being also came along with a new commission; no longer a child of wrath, but a righteous, holy, blameless person equipped by Christ to share that same life.

Point 2 - V.6 – To the Gentiles

 ⁶ 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.

The Gentiles were aware of the Jews, they were aware of how the Jews were a separate people; separate in their lives, separate in their practices, in their God. But this God of the Jews sent his son Christ to remove that separation, and involve the Gentiles not in the rule bound life of the Jews, but in the freedom giving God of the Jews. The Gentiles, for the most part did not know of this God Creator, they even had an Idol to the unknown God, just in case everything else they believed was wrong.

So Saul now Paul, knowing the regenerative power of a life in the service of Christ, knew the Gentiles needed someone to reveal this life to them. He knew this because he was Chosen by Christ, as we are for the same reason. Gentiles are no longer “non Jews,” they are “non Christians.”

Point 3 - V.14 – The Family

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family^[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name.

Paul knew that he was not alone in carrying this message to the rest of the world. He knew the Holy Spirit was revealing Christ to others daily, and in this they were also becoming regenerated beings like himself. He recognized their value. Paul knew they all had been made ambassadors of the Gospel like he did. So along the way he did not want to forget the other members on team Jesus. He dedicated his life to not only spreading the Gospel, but enabling others to do so, like Christ had enabled him. In this same way, Christ has enabled us.

Conclusion - ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

 ²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3

God’s Marvelous Plan for the Gentiles

 ¹ For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

 ² Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, ³ that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. ⁴ In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, ⁵ 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. ⁶ 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.

 ⁷ I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. ⁸ Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, ⁹ and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. ¹⁰¹¹ according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. ¹² In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. ¹³ I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. 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,

A Prayer for the Ephesians

 ¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family^[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

 ²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. 

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Reminder: This post will represent every day of readings for Ephesians 3 this week! 

Day 1:Read the chapter. Journal a personal response to or summary of the chapter.

These thoughts are influenced by 1 Corinthians Ch.8-10, as well as Ephesians Ch.3

Paul is so aware of his position in the church and his identity in Christ. It is amazing to me that he was able to hold such authority and yet still place everyone else above himself. That is definitely a major key towards becoming an affective servant leader; Paul simply knew his mission and the freedom he had while walking in Christ. It seems like through his example, and ultimately through the example of Christ, it was their ability to remain humble and sacrifice themselves for the benefit of their brothers, that gained the trust and respect of the multitudes. Even though Paul had quite a bit of authority over quite a few people, he never flaunted it.

Oh Lord please keep us humble and sacrificially minded so we might be able to lead those around us into the true life that exists in you. 

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Day 2: Read the chapter. Identify one or two key verses, and write them out.


3:18-20 - ... you may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and hight and depth, and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge so that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power that is working within us, is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think...

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Day 3: Read yesterday’s key verses out loud. Journal why you chose them. Rewrite them.

Together, these verses mention unity within the Church ("with all the saints"); the revelation of how grand Christ's love is (breadth, length, hight, depth); and  the fact that his spirit is within us and working through us, doing things over and above the grasp of our imagination ("far beyond all we ask or think). These truths are all very, very involved in they way Christ's body is enabled, guided, and used. Thus, I pick these verses.

The Brandon M. Boldt Translation (c)2011(bah ha ha, right.):
Ephesians 3:18-20 - ... together as the body of Christ you would understand his magnitude, that the mystery of his love would encompass you, and through this submission will take over your entire being. And so to Him working out of the power of His Spirit within us that is able to carry out extravagantly more than we are capable of doing on our own...

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Day 4: Read Day 2’s key verses out loud. Journal how they challenge you personally.


I am challenged. This collection of verses submits that as God is living in us, he can blow away any type of idea or thought we would come up with on our own. Obviously that is challenging. To live in the belief of these verses, I would have to be constantly submitted to God's will. This is the only way he can carry out anything spectacular through me. Don't take me wrong, he can also use me in spite of my disobedience. But to be used in spite of myself is different than being utilized to my full potential. 


It is the challenge of laying down my entire life. This is where the battle of the wills comes in. Will I choose to purchase an extravagant piece of technology that I probably don't need, or will I allow God do do something extravagant with the finances he has given me? Will I take an expensive vacation, or will I practice generosity, donating the funds to a family who has never been on a vacation because its too expensive?


God can do so much through his children If we only let him. If I only let him.


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Conclusion for Ephesians Chapter Two

Ten Minute Talks – Everything in Christ Pt. 2

Text – Ephesians Ch. 2

Made Alive in Christ

 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ

 11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands) — 12remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Point 1

a.       Point  - From Death to Life -

We have all lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the belligerent, greedy, lustful, gluttonous, prideful , envious, slothlike, and other desires of our bodies and minds, and we by nature were children of wrath –  we were prone to vengeance as the consequence of anger, prone to fall; we were fallen – just like the rest of mankind. To state it plainly, we followed satan, the “ruler of the air.” God, however, swept in and saved the day. Actually, he saved us! When Christ was raised up from the grave, you and I were also raised up from it too, into true life; and in that resurrection, in that true life In Christ, we have inherited the knowledge and power of the heavenly realm. In other words, in Christ by God’s Holy Spirit, we’ve been enabled to walk in the realm that is the determinative power over this earth and over heaven and hell.

b.       Illustration/Application -

i.         In Christ, we are able to discern the spiritual climate of any place; we are able to give words of wisdom and knowledge to those in need of it; if called, we can prophecy in to any situation; we are able to have faith for supernatural occurrence. In Christ we are able to bring about healing emotionally and physically to those around us; with so many different languages existing, especially in this country of Canada, we are able to minister in foreign tongues, and interpret them too, even if that means understanding gibberish!

ii.        All of this comes from being raised up with Christ into true life; absolutely none of it comes by our own effort, it is completely through the acts of God. What a privilege! Again, all of this is through the gift of God’s love and grace and mercy through his Messiah son, Jesus! Amen anyone?! In light of this we must indeed remember that we were once away from Christ.

Point 2

a.       Point  - The Wall Came Down -

We were alienated, strangers to God’s promise, we had no hope and no God, totally lost in the world; we were divided, away from his holy nation of Israel. Separated: as the light is from the darkness, we could not exist in the same place. In The Message from vv. 14-19 is says “^14-15The Messiah has made things up between us so that we are now together on this, both non-Jewish outsiders and Jewish insiders. He tore down the wall we used to keep each other at a distance. He repealed the law code that had become so clogged with fine print and footnotes that it hindered more than it helped. Then he started over. Instead of continuing with two groups of people separated by centuries of animosity and suspicion, he created a new kind of human being, a fresh start for everybody.”

 ^16-18Christ brought us together through his death on the cross. The Cross got us to embrace, and that was the end of the hostility. Christ came and preached peace to the outsiders and peace to the insiders. He treated us as equals, and so made us equals. Through him we both share the same Spirit and have equal access to the Father.

 ^19-22That's plain enough, isn't it? You're no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You're no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone.”

b.      Illustration/Application - “Oikos” is the Greek term for “in here” or “inside,” and “xenos” is also a

Greek term for “stranger,” “foreigner,” or “alien.” So as Christ took down the dividing wall of hostility when we were among the xenos, we too must love the xenos of our society as we also love those who are oikos to us.

Point 3

a.                   Point  -  A Holy Temple –

So because we are no longer among the xenos, we are now God’s oikos: saints and citizens of his household, built out of work the apostles and prophets laid down as a foundation with Christ himself as the cornerstone, he is how the whole structure is joined together. In Christ, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to be built as God’s dwelling place in which he can use as a vessel to carry out his good works here on earth.

b.                  Illustration/Application

¹¹ “Afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with lapis lazuli. ¹² I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones. ¹³ All your children will be taught by the LORD, and great will be their peace. ¹⁴ In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you. ¹⁵ If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing; whoever attacks you will surrender to you¹⁶ “See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc; ¹⁷ no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.  This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the LORD.”

That was Isaiah 54:11-17. This scripture is a foreshadow of how God is building the church out of his most precious material. These precious materials are the people of all the various nations who were separated, but are now united and formed as a harmonious society. They all worship the same God; practice the same holiness; and look forward to the same heaven. All of this held together by Christ.    

Conclusion

a.            Everything in Christ Pt. 2

b.            Based on Ephesians Chapter two

c.             So in Ephesians 2, we were taken From Death to Life, the Wall Came Down between us, and the church is being made in to A Holy Temple.

Concluding sentence

How intricately the method of our salvation works.

Pray

Ephesians Chapter 2 -

Made Alive in Christ

 ¹ As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ² in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. ³ All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh^[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶ And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ

 ¹¹ Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— ¹²remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

 ¹⁴ For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ¹⁵ by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. ¹⁷ He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

 ¹⁹ Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. ²¹ In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. ²² And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

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A reminder: I'll be updating this individual post throughout the week rather than making a new one daily.

Day 1: Read the chapter. Journal a personal response to or summary of the chapter.

Jesus has taken down the dividing wall of hostility between all people everywhere. He has developed and proposed a method to reconcile over 6000 different people groups around the world. The old law which kept the Gentiles from living in relationship with God the Father was abolished when Christ went up on that rugged cross. Jesus consumed all judgment with his flesh. Praise Adonai!

Imagine a life that is lived in complete harmony. Everyone loves you; everyone cares enough to help you take in your groceries. Your ruler is one whom benefits all, regardless of their situation. This ruler not only has the time to hear the heart of all who come to him, he has the time to spend every moment with them individually. His people to him aren't just common citizens, they are his family. They are part of his life, - by "part", I don't mean they are simply involved, they are actually of his mind, - they are united in his perfect thoughts. All actions in this life create more life.

What life is this?

This is life in God's Kingdom.

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Day 2:  Read the chapter. Identify one or two key verses, and write them out.

^{Verses 14-15: 14} For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility <sup>15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations.  


Verse 19: 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household...</sup>


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Day 3: Read yesterday’s key verses out loud. Journal why you chose them. Rewrite them.


Verse 14-15: these verses were the ones that most jumped out while I was reading chapter two yesterday, so naturally they were the first ones that I would choose to journal about!


Rewritten verse
There is peace available to all for the law which separated all people has been moved away through the flesh of our Lord who was placed on the cross. Because of this, it is also in him that our reconciliation is found. 


Verse 19: when I read this verse, it makes me think of the country we live in. About how our malls, buses, and stadiums, when in use, are filled with all the different shades of brown that color our skin. We live together, celebrate together, cheer together, vote together. I believe our nation is a foreshadow of the world yet to come. It is imperfect, just like everything else on the earth, but the people that make it up are still made in the image of God.




Rewritten verse
Because of this, you are welcomed in as citizens of his perfect kingdom, even as brothers and sisters in his perfect family. You no longer have to worry about how to gain the trust and favor of these people for you have been justified, your title of outsider has been replaced, forever.


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Day 4: Read Day 2’s key verses out loud. Journal how they challenge you personally.

Verses 14-15: In the past, I've neglected making contact with people I've come across merely because of the cloths they were wearing or the looks they had on their face. Judging, that there is no way they would ever want to talk to someone so different from them; that they were totally content with the beliefs they held and the lives they were living. Writing them  off because there were too many people around who might have heard the conversations we might have had.


When in reality, behind the faces and attire of these people have been individuals who were struggling with their lives; trying to make sense of the religions or ideals they were raised in. People that are trapped in a life of bondage from their family or friends. Bondages preventing them from asking the questions that have been barreling around in their heads for years. Then asking themselves, "Is it even worth while? What if I get caught?" The repercussions of searching for the truth are simply too hard to bare. Brutal abuse or even excommunication are at the other end of these questions. 


There are so many of God's children who are trapped in this life mentioned above. So many people looking for a way out if they could only find one. These are the people primed to hear some good news, the Good News of Jesus Christ. Waiting for someone to sweep them out from the lives they've been stuck in; someone who could reveal to them what true life really looks like.


Verse 14 talks of a barrier being destroyed. This is speaking of the spiritual barrier that existed between the people God created, the Jews and Gentiles. Well, Jesus came and stripped that barrier away, and if this is true, there is not a single human being that me as a spirit filled believer cannot witness to. If I feel called to share the Gospel with some intimidating stranger on the bus, the Holy Spirit IS going to make a way for me to do so. He overcomes any type of difference existing between me and God's child on the other side of the bus. 


Verse 19: We are not alone in the work God has us doing for the Kingdom. There are millions of others around the world whom know and love God, and are listening to the calling he has set upon their lives. We are part of Christ's Body which is the fullness of his being. This means as God is everywhere, we as a people in Christ, are too everywhere with him. We are known in his Kingdom.


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Day 5: Read the key verses again, and then the whole chapter. Journal a personal response or prayer that includes your measurable response to the passage. 


I'm going to listen to Hammock every single time I read the Bible from here on in... That might not be true, but, the boot definitely fits quite well.


Jesus, you've saved us from the wrath we all deserved being people totally dead in our transgressions. You are the way for us to be with the Father God forever. Thank you so much for laying yourself down that we might be able to participate in your Family, in your Kingdom. Thank you for making a way for us to become part of your nation Israel; the nation through whom you will bless all nations. Wow! What a privilege it is to be the vessel in which God blesses the world. Thank you for making a way for all people to know who you are. That those who are walking in darkness might see the light that is in the Father. You have placed us as a city on a hill for all to see, and we praise you for this!


As you dwell in us, allow us to be a temple with open doors. May we honor you in all we do. Help us turn everything into thanksgiving and praise, and as we do so, may the world see that you are our strength; that your temple is fortified by knowledge of who you are. Praise be to God!