| Clay In The Master's Hand |
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"The Prohibitions of the New Man"
I want us to look at some things today in our devotional in order to clarify a few often and misunderstood principles from God's Word. We all as believers in Christ should know that the church is the new man and it is evidenced through its many exhibitions that portray our loving Savior. In other words, there should be a display of Jesus' characteristics and His divine purpose flowing continually from our lives. When does this happen? It happens when we are totally surrendered to His will. The more we surrender to Him the greater the manifestations of Himself will be witnessed in our lives by others. I want us to draw our text from the book of Ephesians and discover some key points that must not be ignored no matter how free you may be in Jesus Christ. Our first three chapters in this particular book offer us the evidence of our blessed position in Christ. It is so important that you and I recognize who we are in Him before we can ever experience the true depths of revelations, faith, health, prosperity and the many other golden benefits afforded to us as Christians. Even the grace that He extends to us as believers will not be fully realized in all its joy if we fail to identify who we are as His body. There has been way too much focus on certain favorite areas of teaching at the expense of omitting other areas of importance that the Bible specifically speaks about with clarity. While it may be true that religion has destroyed many lives with all its unbearable rules and regulations which many were established by men, their denominations, and their often wrong interpretations of the Word of God. We must not ignore the things that God does teach us to rid ourselves of from His Word. There is no doubt that staying with all the positive Scriptures will keep people much happier and more likely to keep them attending our churches. I love upbeat sermons and I believe as a whole that the entire Bible is pointed at that very theme for all of our lives. However, it can never be realized if we neglect the negative things that God discusses with all of us in His Word.
Our first three chapters in Ephesians covered our calling, the construction, and the constitution of the church. In the last three chapters of this same book it considers the conduct of the church and its confession along with the conflict of the church. In today's devotional we will look specifically at the portion that subscribes to what our conduct should be as believers. The first three chapters have us on the mountain peek of the Transfiguration or the highest spiritual point in the New Testament. In other words, it highlights our awesome position in Jesus Christ. In the latter three chapters though we will descend to the plane of living where we confront a demon-possessed world and a skeptical mob. Our Lord Jesus told us that we are in the world but not of the world. Can we always translate the truths of the mountaintop experiences into usable material that we can use for shoes so as to walk in this world for the Lord effectively? Maybe some can! However, one thing that I have learned over the years is that fruit doesn't grow on mountaintops very well if at all; but rather in the lowest valleys. So position was a key word in the first half of Ephesians. I hope you will read further with me here.
We are always grateful to hear back from our readers regarding our weekly devotionals. Therefore, we would love to hear from you and what they have meant to you.
God's richest blessings!
* Many of our readers are not aware that the (Read More) tab below is a link to a PDF file from our website that allows you to receive the entire devotional. We have included this link for those that may want to read the more detailed and in depth version. As always I pray these devotionals bless you as you grow in God's Word. Tell a friend and have them sign up for these inspiring weekly devotionals.
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My Prayer For Today...
My dearest friend and Father:
I am so glad of your caring love for me that far exceeds the safety of what I could provide for myself. It is a foolish thing for a man to resolve that he can predict his own future without the counsel of his Creator. My heart rests in this very fact that what you have begun in me that is surely what I shall become when You have called it done. We are sons and daughters of hope who have placed our trust in You our God; where we shall never be disappointed.
Ours is not one of philosophies of men that mortals have simply imagined and penned within their private journals. No! Ours is a reality that has been breathed into our souls by a true and living God. In our hearts you have ascribed your dictations of truths with a permanent marker. There is no erasing these holy words that encompasses the canvasses of our hearts. We will be read by many others abroad in this life and cause wonders to fill their hearts as they see the interactions of such a Holy and divine Spirit that would embrace such mortal beings as we.
I listen and I hear Your wonderful sayings in the deepest parts of my soul. I break out with all sorts of emotions that burst like fireworks in the skies of my mind. Your Words place a mirror before my eyes that cause me to stand and look with amazement. For who was this man that I once saw myself to be? That now I have gone so far from being him to who I am in You my Lord. Fascinating and full of wonderments that I cannot fully grasp what they mean. Yet, I sing with gladness from deep within and know that my Father cares for me. Amen! |
