July 18th, 2021
Devotional
“Letter to the Ephesians: Christ Has Broken Down the Wall” - Eph 2: 11-22
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Monday: “Formerly” - Eph 2: 11-13
“Alive in Christ!” From 2012-2016 our annual conference proclaimed this theme. We are alive in Christ - on a journey of faith, raising up transformational leaders, equipping congregations to be vital, and creating new places for new people.
To be alive is pretty vital - its to exist, to have life, to be full of the Spirit, to be active. Yet far too many congregations today have forgotten this teaching from Ephesians, that we are alive together for Christ, not as we formerly were, but as new creations in Christ.
The truth is sometimes, if we are not careful, we can slip into the former way of being and doing. The way that focuses on existing just long enough that our needs be fulfilled and have given up on thinking about a future in ministry. A future of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.
The writer of Ephesians is reaching out to a group of people who have been taught a lot of different things over the years about Jesus and God - some of which were not scriptural and lead them down the wrong path. He is trying to teach them the basics of faith, which starts with Christ redefining who we are in light of the cross and the empty tomb.
How would you describe yourself in Christ? How is this different than the description you would use before you knew him?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, in so many ways we can identify with the Ephesians in today’s scripture. For we formerly were far from you, but now we have been transformed by your grace and love. Let us share that life-changing hope with others, we pray. Amen.
Tuesday: “Destroyed the Barrier” - Eph 2: 14-15
The church exists to boast the message of Jesus Christ! And one of the ways that we do that is by telling the powerful story of how Jesus changed our lives. I’ve shared before that I grew up in the church - I don’t remember a point in my life when I have been without him, and haven’t deeply believed in him, but that doesn’t mean that he still hasn’t changed and is changing my life! Praise be to God! It doesn’t matter if you have a moment in time when you can point to when you have been changed or if you grew up with Christ and have been on a continually journey, we all have signs that we have been made new in Christ that need to be shared!
But the other way that we share this truth is by living into it. Becoming people of peace. Sometimes in worship we will say “Peace be with you.” This is not simply a nice greeting, it is inviting us to live and love as people of peace - who set aside the hostility of that which divides us.
The truth is we were all dead before accepting Christ in our lives. Dead in sin. Dead in our trespasses. Dead because we lived according to the worlds standards, marked by barriers that Christ has come to destroy. We have followed the ways of this world, grasping after power and privilege, not thinking about others, and living by the flesh, which is marked by greed, pride, and an obsessive need to put ourselves first.
What divisions do you have in your life that Christ has come to destroy?
Prayer: Lord, we confess that sometimes we prefer the ways of the world. We like to harbor grudges and separate ourselves from those who have harmed us. Lord, show us what it means that you have destroyed those barriers, uniting us, we pray. Amen.
Wednesday: “Reconciled” - Eph 2: 16-18
I love how pastor Adam Hamilton describes the gift of life and grace offered by God. Pastor Hamilton tells the story of how he was putting away his Christmas tree one year and a gift fell out that had become lodged in one of the branches. What were they going to do with this gift? They unwrapped it of course! They didn’t throw it away saying that Christmas was over so they didn’t need the gift anymore. They didn’t put it away until next Christmas to wait to open it. They opened it right then and there, because gifts are meant to be opened and shared.
Far too many people though never unwrap and open the gift that God it trying to offer them in Jesus Christ. They say that the timing isn’t right so they will wait until things change for them - until they have time to appreciate it, but never really knowing if that time will come. Or the toss the gift to the side, saying it isn’t right for them. The gift of Christ is meant to be opened and shared right here and now!
But that gift of grace also changes who we are from the inside out. It changes what we are about and how we go about our days. Grace makes us into people who are reconciled to God through the cross and reconciled to other people as Christ’s disciples in this world. Work that we can only engage in through the Holy Spirit.
Who is Christ inviting you to be reconciled to this day because of his grace?
Prayer: Lord, we like the idea of being reconciled to God because of your gift of grace. We like that we are now in right relationship with God because of the salvation you have offered. But we are not as eager about being reconciled to other people through the power of your grace. Let us continue, through your Spirit, to be a reconciling people, united by your love. Amen.
Thursday: “Foundation” - Eph 2: 19-20
God’s love should change us in such a way that we are willing do just about anything to reach new people and help them unwrap the gift of salvation in their own lives. My brother are identical twins, which means they share a birthday. There are several videos of when they are little - too small to open their own birthday gifts - that I gladly helped them tear through the paper and boxes. I wanted them to see and love whatever gifts they were getting. I knew they weren’t my toys to play with - it was their birthday - but I wanted to share in their joy and excitement of their special day.
One of the ways we can help folks unwrap the gift of salvation in their lives is to share our story. Share the truth of how Christ is the foundation of our life. We need to share the story of how God saved us from sin and saved us by grace because it is so integral to who we are!
But in order to be able to share your elevator story, you first must be able to know how Christ changed your life. Have you ever stopped and considered this? And I don’t mean just change your life in the future in terms of eternity, but changed your life in a concrete way here and now. I fear that too many folks have not even considered this, so when they do have the opportunity to share they have no idea where to start or what to say.
How is Christ the foundation of your life?
Prayer: Lord, you want to be the foundation of our lives, the foundation of our faith, and the foundation of your body - the Church. Let us share how you have changed us in ways that are important to who we are at our core, because of the joy we possess in you. Amen.
Friday: “Built Together” - Eph 2: 21-22
We need to be able to share how we believe the power of sin is real, but God’s power is so much greater. But if we don’t believe that’s true in our own life, we will never be able to share that truth with others. How has God changed you and how can you share that story with others?
God has changed us all in some way. Set us free from something or someone that has controlled us. Changed our belief that we need to be able to do everything on our own, instead of claiming the power of God. Changed what we live for. Changed us from thinking that we can be saved by our good works or by being a good person. How has Christ changed your life and how can you share this change with others? And how can what we share build together a new world through the Church, under the Lordship of Christ?
What is Christ building in and through you?
Prayer: Lord, your sanctifying grace is continually building something in and through us as we grow closer to you. Let your good work continue in us, we pray. Amen.
Saturday: Preparing for the Word
You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic - Ephesians 4:1-16.
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