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Journey Through Ephesians – Faithful Stewards of the Message

February 19, 2012 in Ephesians, Faith with 4 Comments

Ephesians Banner Journey Through Ephesians Faithful Stewards of the Message

the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you -Ephesians 3:2b

God gave Paul a mission – take the Gospel to the Gentiles.  Despite being beaten, imprisoned, shipwrecked, put under house arrest, and dealing with an unknown physical ailment, Paul was faithful to deliver that message to the Gentiles.  He was a good steward of the message that God entrusted with him.

Are you being a faithful steward of the message that God has entrusted with you?

Lately, God has been reminding me of the power of the story.  My story can impact someone else’s life in a way that nothing else can.  My story personal has several big elements: losing my mom when I was 13, being a child of divorce and a blended family, pursuing good girl perfection, and living with depression.  (Today, by the way, would have been my mom’s 57 birthday.)

There are things that I’ve experienced in my life that God can use to comfort others.  Right now, God has me focusing on depression.  I’ve run kicking and screaming the other direction quite a few times on this one.  I’m not exactly Paul the faithful steward, now am I?  But, I must embrace my story.  I’m in the process of taking a bold step by sharing my story in Finding Joy in Depression, an ebook that releases on March 12.

I must be a faithful steward of the message that God has entrusted with me.  {<— Click to Tweet This}

What’s your story?  What message pointing to salvation and freedom through Christ are you meant to share?  Are you being a faithful steward of that message that God has entrusted with you?

Journey Through Ephesians – Joined Together as the Holy Temple

February 12, 2012 in Ephesians, Faith with 6 Comments

Ephesians Banner Journey Through Ephesians Joined Together as the Holy Temple

The “Church” is not a physical building.  You’ve probably heard that said over and over again.  The Church is the body or collection of believers.

In the reading from the past week, the Church is ironically compared to a building; a very special building, a holy temple.

In the Old Testament, God dwelt among His people first in the tabernacle and then later in the temple.  The Spirit would come upon individuals for a period of time, but did not dwell in them.

For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,t but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God byt the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:18-22

According to this passage, we as believers are joined together as the holy temple of God.  God doesn’t need a building any more.  He has chosen to dwell in His people.

Isn’t it amazing first of all that God chooses us as His home and second that we are joined together with such wonderful Christ-followers who have gone before us?

What were your insights from Ephesians this week?  Leave a comment or join the link up!

 



Journey Through Ephesians – God Loves Even You

February 5, 2012 in Ephesians, Faith with 7 Comments

Ephesians Banner Journey Through Ephesians God Loves Even You

Do you ever think that God can’t love you?  I’ve done to much wrong for him to rescue me?  I’m too bad?  I’m not good enough.  He just can’t love me.

I’m happy to report, that’s not true.  God can and does love you.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved…
Ephesians 2:4-5

Even while you are in the middle of your worst sins, God loves you.  It is from the middle of that sin that God can save you.

But, you can’t save yourself.  No matter how hard you try, no matter how many good works you try to do.  You can’t earn salvation.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9

Stop believing the lie that God can’t love you.  He says right here in His Word that He does love you.  Stop believing that you can save yourself.  God tells you in His Word that you can’t do it on your own, rather it is a gift from God.

What were your insights from Ephesians this week?  Leave a comment or join the link up!



Journey Through Ephesians

January 29, 2012 in Ephesians, Faith with 3 Comments

Ephesians Banner Journey Through Ephesians

having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
Ephesians 1:18

His inheritance?

You, Christ-follower, are God’s inheritance.  I pray that the eyes of your heart will be opened to that revelation.  You are valuable and are a gift to God when you choose to follow Him.

Did you know that God is so excited about you that he sings over you?

The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

What were your insights from Ephesians this week?  Leave a comment or join the link up!



Journey Through Ephesians – Holy and Blameless

January 22, 2012 in Ephesians, Faith with 5 Comments

Ephesians Banner Journey Through Ephesians Holy and Blameless

… even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.  Ephesians 1:4

God has made me holy and blameless.  What does that mean?

First, God has set me apart to be used by Him.  This doesn’t mean that we’re “better” than other people.  No, it means that Christ-followers reserved for a special purpose, to be used by God.

Second, blameless doesn’t mean that I’m sinless.  Far from it.  This means that God sees me through Jesus’ sacrifice.  I’m no longer separated from God because of my sin.  I’m now blameless in His sight.

God has given me all blessings and favor.  I must live each day through these gifts and not out of myself.

What were your insights from Ephesians this week?  Leave a comment or join the link up!



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