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| Daily Devotionals for September 13-17
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|  | NOTE: As we continue our studies in the New Testament
book of Ephesians, you are encouraged to read and meditate throughout the week on
the text for the upcoming Sunday's sermon. There is no better preparation for
hearing the teaching of God's Word than to prayerfully read the Scripture
portions to be studied and ask God that "the eyes of your heart may be
enlightened" (Ephesians 1:18).
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 | THIS WEEK'S TEXT
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| | 7 In him
we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance
with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according
to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached
their fulfillment-to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one
head, even Christ.
11 In
him we were also chosen having been predestined according to the plan of him
who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ,
might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the
word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked
in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit . . .
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| MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
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| | Read Ephesians 1:7-13 each
day this week. This is the text that Pastor Rob will teach from on Sunday, September
18. To put these verses in context, today we are including several preceding
verses, as well as the verse following (Ephesians 1:3-14):
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in
Christ. 4 For he chose us in
him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In
love 5 he predestined us to
be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure
and will--6 to the praise of
his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according
to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached
their fulfillment-to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one
head, even Christ.
11 In
him we were also chosen having been predestined according to the plan of him
who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ,
might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the
word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked
in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the
redemption of those who are God's possession-to the praise of his glory.
You may have noticed that verses 7-13 jump in mid-thought.
In fact, this week's Ephesians text is a part of a single sentence as it was
originally written in Greek (Ephesians 1:3-14), and is one of the longest
sentences in all of Paul's writings. Last week, in his teaching on Ephesians 1:1-6, Pastor Rob introduced us to the
role of God the Father in our salvation. In verses 7-13, Paul focuses on the
work of Jesus Christ, beginning with, "redemption through
his blood" and "the forgiveness of sins." While Paul goes on for more than 150
additional words in his hymn of praise and thanksgiving, let's pause today at
verse 7 and thank God for our redemption, that frees us from the bondage and
penalty of sin, and the forgiveness that makes possible our relationship with
God as His children.
Father,
Thank you for sending the One You love, your only Son, to
pay the price of my redemption with His blood. Thank you, Jesus, for purchasing
my freedom from slavery to sin. Help me to live like a person freed from
captivity, free to serve You and serve others in Your name.
Amen
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| TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
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Read Ephesians 1:7-13 each
day this week. This is the text that Pastor Rob will teach from on Sunday, September
18.
As we move through Ephesians, you'll notice that Paul uses
some powerful language as he describes all that is ours in Christ. One of the
phrases he uses is found at the end of verse 7 and on into verse 8, " . . . the riches of God's grace
that he lavished on us . . ."
Riches reflects the
idea of "valuable or beautiful possessions, great wealth and abundance." The
word lavish is defined as "given
or produced in abundance or to excess, generously or extravagantly heaped." In
these days of economic challenge for many of us, there are few opportunities to
experience extravagance or lavish generosity. That's not the case with our
grace-giving God, who lavishes His
grace on us. Take time now to let that image really sink in and take root in
your heart and mind.
Father,
Thank you that there is nothing half-hearted about the
way You love me or the way you lavish the riches of your grace on me. This
isn't about what I deserve, or being "good enough" for you. There's nothing for
me to do or say but to thank You. Thank You. Thank You.
Amen
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| WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
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Read Ephesians 1:7-13 each
day this week. This is the text that Pastor Rob will teach from on Sunday, September
18.
While some people love a good mystery, there are others of
us who are pretty uncomfortable with unanswered questions -- especially when it
comes to matters of faith. The good news of verse 9 is that in this case we are
told that God "has made known to us the mystery of his will according to his
good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ." Put simply, God has a plan. He's
sharing it with us. He is going to bring all things together in Christ.
The truth is that there are some things we won't understand now--or even during our lifetimes. There are some things we may not fully grasp until
eternity, when all our questions will be
answered. But for today, it is enough to know that our sovereign God is working
out His will. A world torn apart by sin is going to be healed -- and we who are
in Christ are going to be part of
it!
Father,
Thank you that being IN CHRIST changes everything for me.
Help me to live in the reality that, for today and for eternity, life is
different. How I spend my time and my money is different. How I plan for the
future, how I relate to other people . . . it's all different. Open my heart to
fully hear, fully experience, and be fully transformed.
Amen
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| THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
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Read Ephesians 1:7-13 each
day this week. This is the text that Pastor Rob will teach from on Sunday, September
18.
From the very first verse of Ephesians, Paul points out
again and again that those who are in Christ have been chosen. In verse 1, he identifies himself as "chosen by the will of God" (NLT). In verse 4 we read, "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world . . ." and in
verse 5,"he predestined us to be adopted as his sons." We read in
verse 11, "In him we were also chosen having
been predestined . . . ."
It is important to recognize that
we are not chosen because we're special or have somehow earned God's favor.
Rather, we are chosen -- purely and simply -- because God loves us. It is not
something to boast about or feel proud of, but a fact to revel in, rest on, and
enjoy!
The Messageparaphrase brings home the impact of what that means to be chosen by God: "It's
in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before
we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had
designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working
out in everything and everyone" (Ephesians 1:11-12, MSG).
Father,
Forgive me for getting sidetracked and believing Satan's
lies about who I am and why I'm here. Keep my focus on You and why You made me
to be who I am. Open my eyes today to Your purpose and your design for what You
would have me to do. Let me work and play, speak and live as one who is
confident of Your love.
Amen
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| FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
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This Sunday, September 18, Pastor
Rob will teach from Ephesians 1:7-13. In preparation, we have been reading and reflecting
on those verses. Today, please begin your reading at verse 1.
1 Paul,
an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in
Christ Jesus:
2 Grace
and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Praise
be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly
realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to
be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus
Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely
given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in
accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according
to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached
their fulfillment-to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one
head, even Christ.
11 In him
we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who
works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ,
might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the
word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked
in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit . . .
Today, read and observe what you find in the first 13 verses
of Ephesians 1. In particular, as you reread through this text, take a moment
to note (underline on paper or highlight onscreen, if possible) each mention of
Jesus Christ. In some cases it will be the pronouns "he" or "his," referring specifically
to Christ. In some cases those pronouns refer to God the Father, so read
carefully and note only those denoting Christ, God's Son.
Paul begins by identifying himself with Christ, and labeling
the saints at Ephesus as, "the faithful in Christ Jesus." As he moves through
these verses, he mentions Christ at least once in nearly every verse.
Do you think Paul was intentional in his repeated use of that name? Or was he just so
overwhelmed with his own need of a Savior, and what Christ and His sacrifice
meant to him personally, that the name of Jesus Christ pervaded his every
thought?
As we prepare for Pastor Rob's teaching on Sunday, reflect
on what Jesus Christ meant to Paul, and what He means to you.
Father,
Thank you for making a way for me to be holy and
blameless in Your sight. For sending your Son to give Himself as a sacrifice in
my place. For the redemption He made possible by His blood, and the forgiveness
of my sins. Help me to be a wholehearted follower of Jesus Christ.
Amen
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