Category: Daily Devotions

This week’s devotions are based on Rooted – Week 5 “I am the Church” (WATCH HERE)

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Ephesians 3:7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. 

Paul had an impressive story to tell. He had been a Pharisee, educated and respected. He was passionate, driven, and convinced that he was doing God’s work. But when Paul describes his ministry in Ephesians 3, he does not point to his accomplishments, intelligence, or qualifications.

Paul understood something that is easy for us to forget. Our place in God’s work is not something we earn. It is a gift of grace.

That was especially remarkable in Paul’s case. Before becoming an apostle, Paul had persecuted Christians. He had worked against the very Church he would later serve. Yet Christ forgave him, called him, and gave him the privilege of proclaiming the Gospel.

Paul never got over that grace.

Sometimes we think God can use other people, but not us. We see our weaknesses, failures, and limitations. We wonder whether we have enough knowledge, enough ability, or enough faith to make a difference.

Paul would understand.

But the good news is that God’s work has never depended on finding perfect people. God works through forgiven people.

The same grace that saves us also gives us a purpose.

Paul was not saved merely so he could enjoy forgiveness for himself. He was given the privilege of making known “the boundless riches of Christ” to others. His life became a testimony to the grace he had received.

The same is true for us.

God may not call you to travel the world as an apostle, but He has placed you somewhere. He has given you people to love, opportunities to serve, and a story to share. Your vocation, relationships, abilities, and experiences can all become places where God’s grace is made known.

Every interaction is an opportunity to share God’s love and grace.

Today, don’t focus first on whether you feel qualified. Remember Paul’s words: “This grace was given me.”

The grace given to you in Christ is not only your hope for eternity. It is also the beginning of a life that God can use for His purposes.

You are a servant of the Gospel by grace.

Reflect: Where do I feel unqualified or unable to serve God? How might God’s grace work through me to bless someone else?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the grace You have given me. I know that I have not earned Your love or deserved a place in Your kingdom. Yet You have forgiven me, called me Your own, and given me opportunities to serve. When I feel unqualified, remind me that Your power is greater than my weakness. Help me share the riches of Your grace with the people You have placed in my life. Let my life point others to You. Amen.

This week’s devotions are based on Rooted – Week 5 “I am the Church” (WATCH HERE)

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Ephesians 3:6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

There is something appealing about a mystery. We enjoy trying to uncover what is hidden, solve what is unknown, and finally discover the answer.

But when Paul speaks about a “mystery” in Ephesians 3, he is not describing something we need to figure out. He is describing something God has revealed.

Gentiles are heirs together with Israel.

For generations, God’s people had waited for the fulfillment of his promises. Now, in Christ, God revealed the fullness of his plan. His grace was bigger than anyone imagined. The wall between Jew and Gentile was broken down. Those who were once far away were brought near.

The mystery was revealed.

And the mystery is still amazing.

Through the Gospel, Jesus does more than forgive your sins and prepare a place for you in heaven. He brings you in. He gives you a family. He makes you an heir. He joins you to his body. He makes you a sharer in promises that you could never earn for yourself.

That is why Paul previously wrote, “You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household” (Ephesians 2:19).

Perhaps you have experienced what it feels like to be an outsider. Maybe you walked into a room where everyone knew one another except you. Perhaps you have felt excluded, overlooked, or wondered whether there was really a place for you.

The Gospel speaks directly into that longing.

In Christ, you are not standing outside hoping someone will notice you. God himself has brought you near. Jesus has opened the door. By his grace, you belong.

And notice that Paul repeatedly uses the word together. We are heirs together, members together, and sharers together.

God’s plan was never simply to save isolated individuals. He is gathering a people for himself.

That changes how we see the person sitting beside us in worship. We may not share the same background, personality, or preferences. But we share something far greater. We share Christ.

Our unity is not something we manufacture. It is a gift Christ has created.

This week, remember that you have been brought into something bigger than yourself. You are part of God’s family by grace. And because you know what it means to be welcomed by Christ, you have the opportunity to welcome others.

Look for someone who may feel like an outsider. Offer a conversation. Learn a name. Extend an invitation. Sometimes a simple act of welcome can reflect a profound Gospel truth.

The Gospel does not merely tell us that we can come near to God.

Through Christ, God brings us home.

Reflect: When have you felt like an outsider? Who might God be inviting you to welcome this week?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for revealing the mystery of your grace in Jesus Christ. Thank you for bringing me near when I was far away and making me part of your family. Help me remember that my place among your people is a gift of grace, not something I have earned. Open my eyes to those who feel alone or excluded, and use me to reflect the welcome and love I have received in Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

This week’s devotions are based on Rooted – Week 5 “I am the Church” (Watch here)

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Ephesians 3:2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

Most of us are accustomed to saying, “I am going to church.” We know what we mean. On Sunday morning, we get dressed, drive to a familiar location, walk through the doors, greet friends, sing, pray, and hear God’s Word. Church is the place we go.

But the Bible gives us a much bigger picture.

The Church is not primarily a building we enter. It is the people Christ has called to himself. Through the Gospel, God brings people who were once separated from him and joins them together as one body.

Paul writes, “Through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:6).

Notice the repeated word: together.

The Gospel does not simply create a collection of individual Christians who happen to worship in the same room. Jesus brings us together. He makes us heirs together. Members together. Sharers together.

That means Christianity was never meant to be lived alone.

There is something wonderfully personal about faith. Jesus knows you. He died for you. He forgives your sins. He calls you by name. But his grace also brings you into a family. When Christ makes you his own, he connects you to his people.

John writes, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

Children belong to a family.

This is one reason gathering with other believers matters so deeply. We do not come together simply because church attendance is a religious obligation. We gather because this is who we are. We are God’s people. We need one another. We hear God’s promises together. We confess our faith together. We receive encouragement together. We carry burdens together.

Think about that when you walk into worship this Sunday.

Look around the room.

These are not merely people who happen to attend the same service you attend. These are people whom Christ has gathered. They are fellow members of his body. They are part of the family into which he has graciously brought you.

And perhaps there is someone who needs to experience that belonging. Someone standing alone. Someone new. Someone who feels unnoticed. Someone who is quietly wondering whether there is really a place for them.

Because you are part of the Church, you have an opportunity to remind them what the Gospel does.

The Gospel does not just forgive outsiders.

It brings outsiders inside.

You do not merely go to church.

By grace, you belong to the Church.

Reflect

1. How does seeing the Church as a family change the way you think about worship and belonging?
2. Who might need you to help them feel welcomed into God’s family?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing me into your family through Jesus Christ. When I am tempted to live my faith alone, remind me that you have joined me to your people. Help me to value the Church, encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ, and welcome those who feel like outsiders. Keep me rooted in your grace and grateful that I belong to you and to the family you have created. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

This week’s devotions are based on “Rooted: Finding My Identity in Christ: I am Connected! (WATCH HERE)

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Ephesians 2:19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. 

Have you ever tried to build something without a level? You can get the pieces together. You can make it look right for a while. But eventually, the crooked lines begin to show. Doors don’t fit. Walls don’t meet. What looked fine at first becomes a problem.

That is why builders need a solid foundation and something that keeps everything aligned.

Paul gives us that picture in Ephesians 2. He says that God’s people are “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.”  (Ephesians 2:20).

The cornerstone was essential to an ancient building. It helped establish the position and alignment of the rest of the structure. Everything else was built in relationship to it.

Paul says Christ is our cornerstone.

That means the Church is not built around personalities, preferences, traditions, or whatever happens to be popular at the moment. The Church is built on God’s Word and aligned to Jesus Christ.

That matters for us personally too.

We are constantly tempted to use something else as our measuring line. We compare ourselves with other people. We build our identity around our accomplishments. We allow our feelings to determine what is true. We let culture tell us what is important. We can even judge a church by whether it fits our preferences.

But Christ calls us back to the cornerstone.

Second Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed.” God’s Word gives us the foundation we need. It tells us who God is, who we are, what Christ has done, and how we are called to live.

And when Christ is the cornerstone, we begin to see the Church differently. We don’t gather simply because everyone agrees with us or because we enjoy the same things. We gather around Christ and His Word.

First Peter 2:5 says, “You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house.”

Notice that word: being built.

God is still working on us. He is still shaping us, correcting us, strengthening us, and teaching us how to live together. And He is doing that work through His Word and by His Spirit.

That means the difficult people in the Church may sometimes be part of God’s work in you. The person who needs your patience may be teaching you patience. The person who needs your forgiveness may be teaching you grace. The person who sees something differently may be teaching you humility.

God isn’t simply building a church around you. He is building you together with His people.

So when church becomes difficult, don’t immediately ask, “Do I like this?” Ask, “Is Christ still the cornerstone? Is God’s Word still the foundation? And how might God be using me to build up the people around me?”

You are not a loose block sitting on your own. You are a living stone, connected to Christ and being built together with His people.

Christ is your cornerstone.

His Word is your foundation.

And He is not finished building.

Reflect: What am I tempted to use as the foundation or measuring line for my life? How can I help build up Christ’s Church and the people around me this week?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being my cornerstone and for building me into Your Church. Forgive me when I place my preferences, feelings, or opinions above Your Word. Keep me grounded in Your truth and aligned with You. Give me patience with the people You have placed around me and help me build them up with encouragement, forgiveness, and love. Use me as a living stone in the Church You are building. Amen.

This week’s devotions are based on “Rooted: Finding My Identity in Christ: I am Connected! (WATCH HERE)

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Ephesians 2:19-20 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

Imagine a pile of building blocks sitting on the floor. Each block is close to the others, but the pile isn’t a building. The blocks haven’t been shaped into something together. They have no shared structure or purpose.

It is possible for Christians to be like that.

We can sit in the same worship service, sing the same songs, listen to the same sermon, and even know each other’s names without really being connected. We can be near one another without sharing life with one another.

Ephesians 2:19 says, “You are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”

That is a beautiful picture of Christian identity. God doesn’t simply invite us to attend His house. He makes us members of His household.

A family is more than people who happen to live under the same roof. Families share life. They celebrate together. They hurt together. They forgive one another. They carry one another through difficult seasons. They show up when it matters.

The same is true of the Church.

Hebrews 10:24 says, “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” That requires more than sitting in the same room. It requires knowing people well enough to encourage them, caring enough to notice when they are struggling, and loving enough to step toward them.

Sometimes we can settle for a superficial kind of belonging. We attend when it is convenient. We participate when we enjoy the experience. We connect when the people around us are easy to like. But when church becomes uncomfortable, when someone disappoints us, or when we don’t like someone’s personality, it can be tempting to pull away.

But Christ calls us to something deeper.

The Church isn’t a place where everything will always be comfortable. It is a family of sinners who have been forgiven by the same Savior. That means we will sometimes disappoint one another. We will have differences. We will misunderstand each other. We will need patience and forgiveness.

That doesn’t mean connection has failed. Sometimes those difficult moments are where Christian love becomes most visible.

Again, Colossians 3:13 says, “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Notice that Paul doesn’t say, “Find people who never frustrate you.” He says, bear with one another.

Why? Because Christ has borne with us.

Today, ask yourself whether your connection to the Church is deeper than simply attending. Who knows you well enough to notice when you are struggling? Who are you encouraging? Whose burdens are you carrying? Is there someone you have pulled away from because the relationship became difficult?

You don’t have to fix every relationship today. But take one step toward deeper connection. Make the phone call. Ask the question. Invite someone for coffee. Offer to help. Sit beside someone you don’t normally talk to.

You are not just a block sitting beside other blocks.

In Christ, you are part of His household. And Christ is teaching His people to live as a family.

Reflect: Is my connection to my church deeper than simply attending? Who is one person God may be calling me to know, encourage, or serve more intentionally?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for making me a member of Your household through Christ. Forgive me when I treat Your Church as something I attend instead of a family to which I belong. Give me patience with others, humility when relationships are difficult, and a heart that is willing to love and serve. Help me take a step toward deeper connection and use me to encourage the people You have placed around me. Amen.