Something Greater

Christ Himself Is Our Peace | Ephesians 2:14-22 “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, 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 by the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:14–22, ESV) This...

The Gap Between Understanding and Trust | John 4:11-15 “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” (John 4:11-15 NIV) There is a gap between understanding and trust which many of us fail to cross. We may come to understand what Jesus says, or we can imagine it changing our lives. But with...

What Is Work? | Exodus 20:8-11 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work , but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work , neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (Ex 20:8-11 NIV) WORK : melakah /mel-ä-KÄ/ Properly, deputyship, ministry; generally, employment (never servile) or work (abstract or concrete); also property (as the result of labor) The biblical use of this work involves ones occupation and business: Occupation, business Property Work (something done or made) Workmanship Service, use Public business: political, religious My takeaway: "Work" is not only "effort" and ...

Supervised, Supported and Purposed | Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus... (Eph 1:1) Father, all that you do is motivated by your pleasure and choice. Paul's life shows how you were in control throughout every circumstance and influence, to make of him an apostle of your Son. I rest now in that same control over my life. All that I've experienced, thought and acted in and upon, every moment of my life, has been supervised, supported, and purposed for good by you, in accordance with your pleasure and will. Continue, Lord God! Make it so, Lord God, however you desire and determine! Amen!

Contentment in Every Circumstance "The battle against covetousness is a battle against unbelief in God’s promise to be all we need in every circumstance..." Too good to not pass along! www.desiringgod.org/articles/i-can-be-content-in-every-circumstance Photo by Rostyslav Savchyn on Unsplash

Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus | Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus... (Eph 1:1) Christ Jesus chose and commissioned Paul Paul was one of Christ's unique ambassadors and delegates Paul's writings communicate Christ's rule, authority and dominion over my life All that Paul wrote was intended by God the Father to glorify himself in me through the work of the Spirit of Christ Jesus Hearing and believing the preaching of Paul's writings is essential for me The commands given by Paul are given with Christ's authority, wisdom, love and goodness Father in heaven, am I consistently eager to be built up through the the words written by your faithful apostles, those early revealers and supporters of the people you called to be Christ's ambassadors and delegates, followers of your Son Jesus Christ? No, I am not consistent in my pursuit of your word. I am distrac...

Three Stages of Sanctification Sanctification, or holiness, may be seen in The Holy Bible in three different contexts or categories: A Moment Realized : Sanctification begins at regeneration A Lifetime Lived : Sanctification continues imperfectly for a lifetime An Eternity Perfected : Sanctification made perfect for all time First Stage: A Moment Realized Our primary desires change, toward God and away from sin Dead to sin, alive to God in Christ Jesus (Rom 6:11) Made an instrument of righteous for God (Rom 6:13) No longer ruled or dominated by sin (Rom 6:14) Second Stage: A Lifetime Lived A lifetime of yielding to God's Spirit and resisting sinful desires of the flesh Our master becomes righteousness (Rom 6:18) Daily we offer ourselves in submission to righteousness (Rom 6:19) We are being transformed with ever-increasing glory (2 Cor 3:18) Let us run with perseverance, throwing off all sin that so easily hinders and entangles (Heb 12:1) Third Stage: An Et...