Tag: Peace

Daily Word

Ephesians 2

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Read Ephesians 2 – There are two teams in the game of life.  We’ve been misled to believe there are many paths a person can take, many spiritual paths, or none.  Those are just fancy clothes on the same old lie, and Satan is the father of lies.

“You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil – the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.”  :2

Jesus is God’s rescue mission for us and for all who turn to him.  “But God is so rich in mercy and he loved us so much that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead.  (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)” :4-5

When I first got saved I thought there must be a third option.  There are so many nice people who were not yet Christians.  I asked my pastor’s wife, and she had so much compassion when she answered me in truth.  There is no third (or fourth, or fifth, or eighty-seventh… etc.) option.  There is God in his loving mercy and power and there is rejection of him which leads to eternal separation and hell.  That was a hard truth for me then, yet it is a reason to share all the more so now.  It is a reason to delight in this life and shine for Jesus because I have so much to be grateful for.

Paul’s letter is clear, Salvation is not a reward we can earn for the good things we have done (:9).  There is no room for pride or arrogance in Christianity, only gratitude, and eagerness to step into the good things he planned for us long ago (:10).

Beloved, live worthy of who you are – God’s masterpiece!

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

Psalm 27

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Read Psalm 27 – Know Jesus, know peace… I don’t know who said that, but it is a wonderful truth. The closer one clings to the LORD, the less power the troubles of this life have.

Our Psalm is a great weapon against anything that may threaten your peace too. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves: THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION; WHOM SHALL I FEAR? THE LORD IS THE STRONGHOLD OF MY LIFE; OF WHOM SHALL I BE AFRAID? :1

So many good things await us and can be discovered in this Psalm! Will you treasure hunt for them and hold them close?

Daily Word, Uncategorized

John 16

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Read John 16 – It’s going to get bad with good reason; keep the faith. 

Jesus front-loads his disciples, “I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith.” 16:1.  You will get kicked out of church.  You may be killed. I am leaving you.  The Holy Spirit is coming… Those are some BIG details! 

Jesus gives a bottom line on sin too in vs :9.  Sin is not believing in Jesus.  Think about it, every lie, every indulgence (fornication, food, drugs, alcohol, shopping, pride or self-depreciation, ect.), every pursuit of malice, and any other sin boils down to not believing in Jesus, and putting the things of this world ahead of worshipping Him.  Jesus says, “There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now.” :12…. Oh my! 

Beloved, we also know as much as we can handle.  Jesus did die and was resurrected.  Jesus is coming back in judgement and only those clothed in Him will enter into the kingdom of heaven.  Keep the faith; keep your peace.  Jesus says:  “I have told you all of this so that you may have peace in me.  Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.  But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” :33✌🌎☝❤☝🌏✌

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1 Peter 1

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Read 1 Peter 1 – May God give you more and more grace and peace. 

Peter is writing to the people of modern day Turkey (Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia 1:1) to comfort and encourage them in a season of persecution.  This letter was written around 63 A.D. – Jesus was crucified in 33 A.D.  It is a mere 30 years later and Christianity is still considered fringe by the masses…. And common people tend to treat non-conformists with hostility, much like today. 

Peter reminds them of their hope due to God’s mercy, Jesus’ resurrection and their Salvation(1:3).  He assures them by their faith, God is protecting them (1:5).  He doesn’t sugar-coat the truth that there will be trials, but encourages them to take joy over the fact that these trials reveal their faith to be genuine and will ultimately result in great praise, glory and honor when Jesus is revealed to the whole world(1:6-7). 

Beloved, read these words, pray for the Holy Spirits lead as you navigate the trials of life in this world.🙏🏻🕊📖🤗📖🕊🙏🏻