KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Saturday, December 16, 2017
Chapters: Book of Ephesians
Message: From A Creation To A Child
Hello My Friend,
Many people believe that when God created man He automatically He made some good natured and some bad natured, and only those who He chooses get to go to heaven when they die. While this is true to some extent, this is false teaching because God made everything good, it is sin that turns one from good to bad. To explain we need to know the meaning of the key word in this book, predestinated. Predestinate; To predetermine or foreordain. Now, there are some things in this world that God has predetermined for all of us, we are born, and we will die. Believe it or not, we are all born predestined to go to heaven, but God has given us all something that lets us choose how we think, and that is freewill. Freewill means we have a choice, and it is actually the choices we make that turn us away from God. While God does want all born to be saved, not all will because He only made one way to heaven, Jesus Christ. And it is only through Him that we are accepted in the beloved.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” – Ephesians 1:3-7.
“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself,” Sin is what separates man from God, it is what divides us and makes us enemies. However, it pleased God to send a perfect Son so that we can be redeemed and not only be reconciled with God, but become one of His very own children. Praise God! I heard a speaker say that we are quick to point out others sin, but easier on ourselves about our own. While I do believe that people who know they are living sinful lives are quick to point out others sins, true Christians are much harder on themselves because they know what they are capable of. If you have been struggling and think you have failed God, think again. Look how far you have come since having chosen to live your life with Christ in it. Paul reminds us of where we were before Christ and that it is by grace we are saved.
“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” – Ephesians 2:1-5,12,13.
“hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)” It is only by the grace of God that we are saved, we cannot earn our way to heaven with good works, but once we get saved and start living our lives through Christ we start gravitating to those good works. Christ changes us for the better, He gets rid of all the junk that causes unnecessary suffering, temptation, and shame, including people that keep us from living for Him. We must understand that living through Christ does not mean we will no longer suffer, remember, some things are already predestinated for us, meaning we are going to have to face some pain, but He will be there with us and give us a better way of getting through them. Paul tells us not to question why God allows these things because they are used to show the power of God in each and every one of us.
“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” – Ephesians 3:14-20.
“according to the power that worketh in us,” The second we learned of, believed, and received Christ as our Saviour we were filled with the Spirit of God and that power awakens us with new life, no matter what we are going through. It is easy to just walk away from God, especially when we are facing some of the worst trials, but to hold on is the strongest thing we will ever do. What does rebelling do? It only makes things worse for us. Paul stresses the importance of making the best of our new life with Christ so that He is seen through us.
“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.” – Ephesians 4:17-27.
“Neither give place to the devil.” The devil loves to deceive us into believing that we can live the same life we lived before Christ was in us and not face any consequences for it. This is not true, while we cannot lose our salvation after we are saved we can lose our connection with God. We are not perfect, but we are God’s people, we cannot stop people from living the life they want, but they cannot stop us from living for God either. Christ alone is the key to standing firm in our beliefs and not giving into temptation. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” – Ephesians 6:10-13.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,” – Ephesians 1:5.
Today’s Prayer: God, Your mercy and grace for us is beyond measure, it is just amazing to think of what kind of life I lived before You were in it, and how You have completely changed it. Over the years You have brought peace, hope, and even joy to my life through both the good times and the bad. Lord, I know I am going to mess up again no matter how much I try not to, but Your mercy endures forever. Lead me and guide me, search me and open my heart to discover anything that is keeping me out of Your will. Strengthen me and grow me as I seek Your will, looking only to You for wisdom and guidance while You are pleased to keep me here on earth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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