He Chose Us

Read Ephesians 1:3-10

Paul writes this letter as “a prisoner” (3:1; 4:1) yet he exalts that we are “blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing.” Present difficult circumstances do not dissuade Paul from rejoicing in who he is in Christ: blessed, adopted as God’s own, forgiven, and empowered to give God glory. Other people may dismiss Paul as a prisoner but God embraces him as a precious child of His own redeeming. Other people may dismiss Paul as a drifter without regular employment but God selects Paul as a worker in His kingdom. We share with Paul that ancient lavish calling in Christ, a calling that is, literally, older than dirt, made “before the foundation of the world.”

God chooses us today with new mercy to join Him in His work, just as He chose us “before the foundation of the world.” He blesses us today that we might be empowered to obey Him, regardless of today’s circumstances. We have a divine appointment today to live in Christ, fueled by heaven’s resources. Other people may dismiss us, or even curse us, but God blesses us that we might bless others and glorify Him.

QUESTIONS:

1. What nay-saying from others or your own mind, keep you from embracing your blessed identity in Christ?

2. Where and with whom today can you praise God’s glorious grace?

PRAYER:

Lord, soak Your grace so deep into my soul today that my mouth and hands can’t keep from glorifying You.

Pam Mann

Jesus reminds us to be humble

December 27

Scripture Reading

Read Luke 18:8-14 and reflect on the passage.

I can still see the Sunday School picture of this parable as I first learned it. All of us kids wondered: Who would be so stupidly arrogant as this boastful Pharisee? We didn’t even realize that we were judging ourselves as better than the Pharisee, just the Pharisee had thought himself better than the tax collector!

“Oh, we all can get that Pharisee-stupid some time or other,” our teacher assured us, “whenever we forget we’re sinners like the tax collector.” She suggested that Jesus tells us this story because He wants us to work like a saint but worship like a sinner. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice for us, we can come to God as forgiven sinners. What gratitude to God we—as forgiven people—can have! Then, because of God’s spirit in us, we have the power to do the good works He has prepared for us. What amazing things God can work in us when we follow Him! Worship with the thankfulness of a sinner who doesn’t deserve God’s kindness. Work with the energy of a saint of God’s own making in His Spirit’s power.

Questions

1.      How can you do the right thing for the right reason?

2.      How does the opinion of others mess with your faith life?

Prayer

Jesus, You wash us clean. You power us up. You prepare the way for us to go. When we stumble, rescue us again. Thank You.

—Pam Mann

God is bigger than anything man can build

2 December

Scripture Reading

Read 1 Kings 8:22-27 and reflect on the passage.

Young King Solomon stands before his people and gives his stunning new building to the Lord. Though the new temple is magnificent, Solomon admits it is unfit as God’s home because even all heaven and earth cannot contain its Maker. How much more incredible, then, to ponder that God Himself in human flesh has come among us! In fact, today He wants His spirit to live long-term inside our floundering hearts. C. S. Lewis pictured us in this indwelling experience as living houses that God wants to rebuild. At first, God does basic repairs that we knew we needed. But, when he starts huge remodeling changes, we wonder what’s up.

“The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of—throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”

—C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Questions

1. What basic repair does God want to make in your “living house” today?

2. Where does God want long-term rebuilding in you, His palace?

Prayer

Lord, Life-builder, come in. No more spot cleaning nor superficial patch jobs. Knock down walls. Build what You need. Make my life Your home. Amen.

—Pam Mann