Tag: Paul

Daily Word

Ephesians 3

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Read Ephesians 3 – Be awed. Be truly and fully AWED by our holy, benevolent, glorious Heavenly Father.

As I read I couldn’t help but want more of Jesus. I don’t think I have even scratched the surface of how awesome he is.

Paul mentions that “the stewardship of God’s grace” (:2) was given to him for the Gentiles (like me). The words struck me as especially wonderful…. I may have read them countless times before, but today they are precious. He even says the mystery was made known to him (:3). What an incredible and joyful privilege… how very special to introduce a person to the most excellent nature of God’s grace, especially a Gentile who may have felt outside of the Lord’s love prior to Jesus.

Paul’s prayer is that we, and all God’s people, have the power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ (:18). I am small in the presence of His love, even my little understanding is so enormous it makes everything else small. The God of the universe, the LORD God Almighty loves us fully and eternally… wow!

Beloved, may we both ask for more today…. More understanding of God’s love, and more understanding of our privilege to know and share Jesus.

Daily Word

Ephesians

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Read Ephesians 1:1-2 – Back to book… Back to the Good Book.  Today we are going to return to our reading with the book of Ephesians.  It is in the New Testament.  The New Testament starts with the four gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  They covered Jesus’s birth, life, death and resurrection.  Acts comes next and covers the early beginning of the Church, the arrival of the Holy Spirit, Stephen’s death (the first person martyred for the Christian faith), and Saul/Paul’s road to Damascus experience.  Then Romans, Paul’s letter to Rome, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Paul’s letters to the church in Corinth, then the shorter epistles of Galations, EPHESIANS, Philippians and Colossians.  

I learned an acronym GENERAL ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, to keep these epistles straight.  My friend later taught me the Sunday school method – GO EAT POP CORN; isn’t that cute?  I hope  this is helpful.  I want you to know your way around the Bible as we go.

Ephesians was written by Paul while he was imprisoned in Rome.  If your bible contains an introduction to Ephesians, please read it along with verses :1-2:

“This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.  I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.  May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.”

Paul was chosen by God to be an apostle of Jesus… This happened after Jesus’s death, as Paul was on the road to Damascus with the intent to persecute Christians there.  It is an incredible conversion and you can read about it in Acts 9.  

Beloved, we are on a mission with Paul for more grace and peace found in Jesus.  God bless your day.

Daily Word

Philemon

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Read Philemon – Advocate, amends and acceptance are the themes in this epistle from Paul. 

Paul advocates as a picture of how Jesus advocates for us, when he asks Philemon to “put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.” :6  Paul is asking that Onesimus, a runaway slave of Philemon, be received as a brother in Christ.  Paul assures him that Onesimus will be much more valuable now that he is a believer.  

Onesimus will be tasked with the responsibility to return to his past, make amends and work alongside Philemon.  Beloved, part of being a healthy member of God’s family requires that we settle accounts from the past.  One cannot be truly free while hanging on to guilt, unforgiveness or anything that hangs over one’s heart.  Once you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are a new creation.  Beforehand, you weren’t too useful, now you have purpose.

Philemon is tasked with acceptance that his slave, who deserves punishment, will now work alongside him as a fellow believer.  That is what putting your faith in action looks like.  We must change our minds about the things “owed” to us, because it all belongs to the Lord anyway.  When Jesus blesses us, that blessing should pour out upon those around us.

Beloved, this is such a sweet epistle to rest in.  Which character do you relate to the most?  Have you been holding on to something, and now sense that the Lord wants you to let it go – entrusting Him with the outcome?  Are you in position to advocate for a believer who needs someone on her side?  What can you do today to share your joy and freedom in Christ with another?

Next we will visit the adventures and adversity that the Israelites encountered alongside Moses in the book of Deuteronomy!  It’s been on my heart to dive into this exciting fifth book of the Old Testament for some time now.  You will find it in the beginning of your bible between Numbers and Joshua.

Daily Word

Acts 27

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Read Acts 27 – Sailing through the impossible with God will keep your head above water. 

Paul sets sail for Rome and in verse :2 we find a tiny word “us” that suggests Luke was with him.  Remember, Luke is the author of Acts. 

Paul is a prisoner, but his concession to be allowed to go ashore and visit friends (:3) suggests he was revered and trusted.  If you recall from previous chapters, Paul is no stranger to the seas, having taken several missionary journeys.  When the winds get difficult Paul addresses the ship’s officers about it (:9-12).  They do not heed his warning and press on.  The results are perilous, the sun and stars were blotted out and all hope was gone (:20). 

Paul addressed the men again, an angel of the Lord assured Paul he would stand before Caesar, and that God, in his goodness, would also grant safety to everyone sailing with him.  Paul said, “So take courage!  For I believe God.  It will be just as he said. But we will be shipwrecked on an island.” :25-26.  The night was still quite dramatic, and Paul urged all to eat something.  Paul took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it.  Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat. 

Beloved, sometimes things escalate and the very best thing is to get back to basics.  Thank God.  Eat. The Lord keeps things very simple for us. 

Our chapter ends with, “So everyone escaped safely to shore.”  They lost everything but their lives, the cargo, the ship, yet not one perished just as God told Paul.  What is the Lord telling you through this chapter? 🚢⚓🥖🙌🍞⚓🚢

Daily Word

Acts 26

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Read Acts 26 – Every reason to share your testimony is a good thing – King Agrippa invites Paul to speak, and he opens with a compliment.  Knowing your audience, knowing their starting point of knowledge is very useful. 

Paul reviewed his childhood foundation, his resolute belief in the Scriptures and the fact that he is on trial because of his hope in the fulfillment of God’s promises made to their ancestors (:6).  He spoke of his original persecution of anyone who believed in Jesus (:9-12)…. Beloved, don’t shy away from the worst thing in your past, the thing that brought you to repentance.  God can bring beauty from ashes (Isaiah 61:3); let the Holy Spirit use your story to open the eyes of the blind. 

Paul shared his incredible road to Damascus experience with Jesus and all the good fruit that resulted from it, circling back to the prophecy found in Scripture (:23).  Festus interrupts, calling Paul crazy from too much study.  King Agrippa interrupts, asking if Paul is trying to  persuade him to become a Christian.  Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains.”  :29  And with that, the men, Bernice and all the others stood and left. 

How close to salvation were they to have been almost persuaded.  What causes a person to get so close and turn away?  It is tragic.  They left knowing Paul hadn’t done anything to deserve death or imprisonment, yet because Paul had appealed to Caesar, to Caesar he would go.  

Daily Word

Acts 25

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Read Acts 25 – The Lord works in mysterious ways – Paul is able to share the Gospel because of the false accusations against him.  He has an audience in Festus, the new governor, King Aggripa and his sister, Bernice.  Notice all that is recorded in verse :23, “So the next day Agrippa and Bernice arrived at the auditorium with great pomp, accompanied by military officers and prominent men of the city. Festus ordered that Paul be brought in.”  This was a big show… yet what the accusers meant for evil, God used for good.  Paul has appealed to Caesar, as was his right as a Roman citizen, :11.  Festus agreed, but couldn’t even articulate what the charge against him was.  Our chapter ends with Festus declaring: “For it makes no sense to send a prisoner to the emperor without specifying the charges against him!” :27.  Beloved, when life seems unfair, look for the bigger picture.  Look for ways to show God’s goodness and mercy to those around you.  May you always have eyes for Jesus.😍

Daily Word

Acts 24

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Read Acts 24 – Some people are so open-minded their brains fall out! 

I don’t know where I heard that expression, but it certainly applies to Governor Felix.  Through his time with Paul, he learned about Jesus.  His heart had a curiosity.  He kept Paul safe and permitted his friends to visit and care for him for two years.  He, himself, sent for Paul frequently. 

Doesn’t Governor Felix sound like a nice person?  Doesn’t he sound like an open-minded, worldly person?  Yet in the end he did not act on the information given.  He did not accept Christ.  He simply left Paul in prison for another to decide – all for the favor of men. 

Felix’s life was stuck in this world.  He heard the Good News.  He heard wisdom and logic, and yet he rejected Jesus by his inactivity.  Beloved, we all know people like Felix.  Polite people who ask good questions and seem to listen, but in the end, simply turn away.  We know that one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (see Philippians 2:10-11)  There is one road to heaven and it is narrow (See Matthew 7 and Luke 13).  Beloved, don’t let these people discourage you.  Answer their questions, God’s Word never returns void… It could be the timing, and your “Felix” will process your answers years later, perhaps someone on the periphery is hearing, or perhaps God is building you up with the sharing of your faith.   Keep the good faith, my beloved. 📖🗨🧏‍♀️☝🧏‍♂️💬📖

Daily Word

Acts 23

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Read Acts 23 – See God’s hand of protection beyond the detail. 

The details are bad.  Paul is on trial.  The Jews are against him.  The Politicians are curious, but don’t want the responsibility.  Discouragement would be understandable, but for God’s hand of protection…

Beloved, as you read, try to imagine being in Paul’s shoes, there was no earthly reason for him to have hope, but for Jesus, there was hope.  See Paul hold his ground when the High Priest wants him slapped, :3.  Yet when he is informed that he was speaking to the High Priest, he honors the Word of God and apologizes, :5.  Paul is sharp to recognize the division between his accusers, and use it to his advantage.  The commander sees the escalation and the soldiers are once again called in to rescue him, :10.  The Lord appeared to Paul that very night with encouragement! (:11).   The Jews form a plot to kill Paul, and bind themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until he is dead.  I wonder how they justified themselves when they failed?  Paul’s nephew overheard the plan and tipped the commander, who then sent Paul to Caesarea to meet with Governor Felix. 

Beloved, rest in the fact that God’s love is unfailing.  You may be up against humanly insurmountable odds, but Jesus’s plan and purpose will always prevail.

Daily Word

Acts 22

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Read Acts 22 – We left off with Paul, having been rescued from the chants of, “Kill him!  Kill him!” (21:36), on the steps, addressing the angry crowd. 

Paul speaks in the Hebrew dialect to the Jewish crowd, and silence washes over them.  He tells his story, his testimony, who he was, where he came from, the encounter with Jesus that changed everything, and what he was to do with it. 

The crowd must have been captivated because Paul speaks fluidly for 21 verses… but that 21st verse:  “But the Lord said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!’’ That sent them over the edge, and the riot started back up.  The commander brought Paul inside and ordered him whipped to coerce a confession as to why the crowds were so agitated.  But Paul uses his Roman citizenship for immunity.  Nobody better mess with a Roman citizen.  The commander knew it; he paid a great price to obtain his, but even greater,  Paul was a citizen by birth(:28). 

Beloved, there is so much to learn about God and his purpose for you in these verses.  The Lord knew Paul before he was born and used every event in Paul’s life for His divine purposes – and the same is true for you.  Paul gave his testimony.  Beloved, your testimony is irrefutable.  It’s yours.  You may feel ill equipped with Scripture references, yet, your story is yours to display God’s gracious, merciful, saving love.  Now, who can you tell today?😍🙌🙏💖🙏🙌😍

Daily Word

Acts 21

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Read Acts 21 – I remember being pregnant. (my son teased me and said I lost my entire make audience with this opener. Stay with me, Gents!) It was such an incredible time, filled with joy at the creation taking place inside me, and dreams of what my little girl, then my little boy, would be like.  But delivery bewildered me.  How was this giant baby going to come out?  I knew women much weaker than me did it – and did it more than once – but logically, it was a scary thought!  I see a similarity in Paul’s purpose.  He has the beautiful Gospel to share, yet many prophets tell him it will be difficult for him in Jerusalem.  He will be bound.  He will be turned over to the Gentiles.  The believers begged him not to go, :11-12.  Paul accepted that he was risking jail and even death, but it was for the sake of the Lord Jesus, and he would not be persuaded otherwise. 

Beloved, don’t let hard things scare you away from doing whatever the Lord lays on your heart to do. 

Sure enough, Paul arrives in Jerusalem and meets with James and all the elders of the Jerusalem church.  He gives a detailed account to them, and I found myself wondering if this was the very account that Luke used to write Acts.  (21:19) 

Paul soon gets arrested, a riot ensues, and that is where he gets his platform to address the crowd with the Roman commander’s protection… Our chapter ends with that cliffhanger.   The Bible is exciting! I can’t wait to see what happens tomorrow – 😍☝💯