Ephesians 1:12-14 – God’s Purpose

Read Ephesians 1:12-14

Have you ever written a “purpose statement” for your life? Many businesses and organizations start with a purpose statement to set intentions and expectations for their goals. God’s purpose for us, then, is that we will bring him glory. God intends for us to be included because we have heard and accepted the Good News.

God’s purpose for Himself is to save us and give us the Holy Spirit. That is definitely Good News! Jesus was sent on that rescue mission so we would be saved from our sins. We were never abandoned because Jesus sent the promised Holy Spirit so we would be empowered and set free. Continue reading “Ephesians 1:12-14 – God’s Purpose”

Ephesians 1:9-11 – The Plan

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Moving on from the praise in our last reading, Paul shares a truth that will surely give us reason to rejoice. We’re given inside information about what God’s plan is for our lives and for the world. It is a glorious future we all share.

As followers of Christ, we are part of God’s plan. How God’s will plays out remains a mystery to us, but now we know what the plan is. Paul tells us, “At the right time he (God) will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.” The puzzling part of this statement is what God deems to be the “right time.” Continue reading “Ephesians 1:9-11 – The Plan”

Ephesians 1:1-8 – Praise

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Paul opens this letter to the Ephesians by introducing himself as chosen by God, acknowledging the faithfulness of the believers there, and giving them a blessing. As an apostle of Jesus, Paul was given the mission of making sure people understood what it meant to be followers of Jesus.

From the start, Paul sets a great example for a life of faith by giving “all praise” to God. It is good for us to regularly sing God’s praises, remembering all the blessings he has given us. We don’t need to wait for our quiet time of prayer and reflection to exalt him for what he has done. Paul is praising in the middle of this letter! Continue reading “Ephesians 1:1-8 – Praise”

Genesis 1:1-2:4 – Creation is Good

Read Genesis 1:1-2:4

The best place to get to know our majestic and gracious God is to look at the creation of the world. We can learn so much from the Bible account of creation. Yet, it can be hard when we hear about the millions of years the earth has been in existence. How are we supposed to understand what Genesis tells us?

It’s important to remember that the Bible is God’s Word to us. This holy book has a purpose in our faith journey. While it’s full of history and stories God wants us to know, it doesn’t cover every single moment. It’s best when we think of the Bible as God’s message to us, so we can understand how God and man intersect in this world. Continue reading “Genesis 1:1-2:4 – Creation is Good”

Psalm 8 – God the Creator

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As we embark on our “Discovering the Bible Challenge,” we’ll focus first on Our Majestic and Gracious God. Each reading has been carefully selected for our Bible adventure together. Our opening theme helps introduce us to who God is. What does our psalm speak to your heart about God’s character? Have you ever thought about God like this?

For me, I am comforted in knowing I was not created and then left to fend for myself. We all know this world to be a dark, cruel place underneath all the beauty and glorious display of God’s hand. There is peace knowing God created me to be in a relationship with him. His instructions are available for all of us. Continue reading “Psalm 8 – God the Creator”

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