A Beautiful Building!
This week’s devotions are based on Week 4 of the Series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are (CLICK HERE)
Ephesians 2:21 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.
If you have ever visited a grand cathedral such as Duke Chapel in Durham, NC or the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. you know the awe inspiring feel you have when you walk into such a grand structure built initially for the worship of the Lord. A trip to Europe adds additional magnificent worship structures to the grandeur list. While grand in their appearance, they are just structures and sadly, many remain empty of worshippers and empty of the Gospel.
Knowing that bricks and mortar can be combined in impressive ways, architects can design and craftsmen build beautiful buildings.
The interesting things of many of these grand cathedrals is they were built on high points in the city with a spire that could be seen for miles around. The physical structure was an orientation point for all in the community to orient their heart, lives, and prayers toward God. The temple of the Old Testament worshiper was no different. It was an impressive structure set on the high point of Jerusalem. Even when the people of Israel were taken into captivity in Babylon, Daniel and others would orient themselves toward Jerusalem and pray toward the temple. It was a physical testimony to the presence of God in the land and even in the world.
Here’s the prayer of King Solomon at the dedication of the first temple:
1 Kings 8:29 May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 30 Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.
For centuries the temple was a witness to the world of the Lord and a place which marked the dwelling of God with his people.
That temple is gone, but God has designed and constructed a new temple to carry out the same purposes…his Church, you and me. The building together of God’s people is to “rise to become a holy temple in the Lord.” As I read this, I see the spire of the cathedral rising above the community to be a place of orientation and direction. Is not this the role of the Church? To be a witness in the world with the power of the Gospel and the orientation of the Word of God for the hearts of people? Absolutely! The center of the temple was the Most Holy Place where the presence of God dwelled among his people. Now, the hearts of believers are where God by his Spirit dwells. Collectively as two or three or more gather in his name, the Lord dwells in them and among them.
We, as God’s people, have been built together with others of God’s family to be the temple of God in our world today – a place that rises to give testimony to the love, justice, grace, and mercy of God as well as the place where God chooses to dwell by his Spirit.
You, Church, are the temple of God beautifully designed, masterfully crafted, and carefully constructed by the Lord himself to be the beacon of his love and grace in the world.
Apply: How can we be the temple of God more impactfully so when someone “steps into” the realm of believers they see and experience the grandeur and greatness of the Lord?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your master craftsmanship that in love built me into your temple to be a witness to the world and the place where you choose to dwell. AMEN.
The consequences of grace!
This week’s devotions are based on Week 4 of the Series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are (CLICK HERE)
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.
The consequences are significant.
When Christ Jesus goes to work on our behalf, the impact is profound. By fulfilling the law on our behalf, he imparts a status of “saint” on us. By paying the price for our sin on the cross, he marks our bill for sin as “paid in full.”
But it doesn’t stop there. Paul says, as a result of Christ’s work, you are no longer foreigners and aliens. Perhaps these terms evoke the immigration issue in our country as people from outside of our country (foreigners) desire to come in our country, unfortunately many of them come illegally (Illegal aliens). Why? Because our country has something they want.
There is also talk in our country of either deporting those here illegally or granting them asylum or a path to citizenship.
For some simply a declaration that their status is now “fellow citizens” of the United States would evoke great ire. For others, they would start a celebration.
Today’s devotion isn’t to settle the immigration issue in our country, but rather get us thinking about the amazing gift it was that the Father in heaven, through the work of Jesus Christ, declared us fellow citizens. We didn’t earn the visa or stand in line for an application. By faith we were connected to the saving work of Jesus and were given the status of “fellow citizen.”
Like in the USA, the one who receives as a gift the status of fellow citizen (even after breaking the law to get here) would embark on great rejoicing for the new status they were given. Perhaps others would meet this reality with great ire, or at least strong consternation.
But why? Why would even we be upset is someone, who was not part of God’s kingdom were declare “fellow citizens” with you?
I can think of a few reasons I would think that way…perhaps you resonate or have others.
- They don’t deserve it. Even though I did nothing to earn my citizenship in God’s kingdom, somehow my ego leads me to think I am more deserving of God’s favor than another person. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I don’t deserve it either.
- They aren’t going to bring enough value. Again this is a performance based evaluation assuming that I bring great value and they won’t. Again, way off.
- They are sinners. They are “too far gone” or lived too much of their life apart from God. They don’t deserve the grace of God.
Forgive me Lord for elevating myself superficially to make myself look better than others. The fact is that any of us would be counted as part of the kingdom of God is simply a gift of God’s grace. It is his kingdom. He aligned us all to the cornerstone of his Son Jesus and fortified his foundation with the teachings and writings of the Apostles and prophets.
What does this mean? Let go of judgment against anyone God has brought into his kingdom. Marvel that his grace is enough, not only for you, but for everyone else as well.
Apply: Do you sometimes have a moment when you think you deserve the favor of God more than someone else? Look at people differently and see that it is God’s grace, not you, who make them fellow citizens.
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for making me a citizen of your kingdom as a gift of grace. Forgive my pride and lead me to welcome all you have called into your kingdom as fellow citizens of your kingdom of grace. AMEN.
Made a citizen…
This week’s devotions are based on Week 4 of the Series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are (CLICK HERE)
In the first half of Ephesians 2, Paul describes the spiritual condition of his readers as “dead in sin.” This condition is irreversible by the individual who is dead. BUT…God does something about it and HE made us alive (Ephesians 2:4).
In the same way, yesterday we focused on a condition that we also are not able to change. We are, by nature, outside the family of God, not a citizen of God’s kingdom.
So what happens?
Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
The one who brings us into God’s kingdom is Christ Jesus. Notice that Christ BRINGS us near even when we were far away (just like he made us alive when we were dead in sins). What was at odds and separate, the blood of Christ restores and brings peace.
Ephesians 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
What is amazing about the work of Christ, he addressed the two key things that practically, physically and spiritually separated those outside the people of Israel. Not only are these realities just about the nation of Israel of the Old Testament, but Israel is always used as the spiritual picture of the people of God.
So what was characteristic of the nation of Israel? God gave Moses the Law that guided their worship life, their civil life and their moral life. The law was not universal for all, but God demanded perfection from his people. The reality is all broke the law and fell short of the perfection of God…including us today. So what did Christ do? He set aside in his flesh the law with its commands. Perhaps it seems like an arbitrary end to these laws that God has given. Rather Jesus didn’t just ignore the law, he fulfilled it perfectly. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17). By fulfilling the law, Jesus broke down the wall of hostility that sin and breaking of the law created. Our imperfection is now covered by the perfection of Jesus Christ.
The second characteristic of the nation of Israel was the sacrificial system that led to much shedding of blood to cover the guilt of sin. The access to God could only happen through the shedding of blood. A person could never shed enough blood of his own to access God. But Jesus did. He paid the price on the cross to give access to God to everyone. The payment for our sin was completely paid by the death of Jesus on the cross. The result? “Through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit” (Ephesians 2:18).
The ultimate result…God has brought us into his kingdom and gave us the status of citizen of his kingdom and one of his people.
Apply: Perhaps you have been on the outside of a group you wanted to be part of. What does it feel like to be on the outside? What does it feel like when you are brought into the group? Now apply this to your status as a citizen of the kingdom of God.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for your love and grace that did all that was necessary to bring me in your kingdom. AMEN.
Without hope.
This week’s devotions are based on Week 4 of the Series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are (CLICK HERE)
Ephesians 2:11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
The reality in the world at Paul’s time was that people of non-Jewish birth did not have the same rights as the people of Jewish decent. At the time of Abraham, God made a promise to Abraham that he would bless his family line, give the land of Canaan to them and that many nations would come from him. To seal this promise or covenant, God instructed Abraham to circumcise all the males in his household. Circumcision was a sign that that individual and their families lived under the covenant God had made. To enter this covenant for the descendants of Abraham, all one had to do was to be born of Jewish parents and then for those parents to have you circumcised on the eighth day. Some foreigners married in or were bought as slaves and circumcised, but if you weren’t circumcised you were separated from citizenship in Israel.
For many this was a physical designation or national designation…which it was. However the picture of Israel always was intended to be a spiritual picture of the relationship God had with his people. Israel was the gathering of people who would put their faith in the true God and walked in the ways of the Lord.
So not only is Paul identifying a physical reality (excluded from Israel) but most importantly he is addressing the spiritual reality…they were separated from God.
The result? Without hope…without God in this world.
Not only is this a reality for the people in Ephesus, but this is true for every individual who is separated from Christ and not a follower of the Lord.
What strikes me about this phrase is that people in Ephesus, like people today, had entities that they call “god” around them. At the heart of it all was the worship of Artemis, the fertility goddess. Yet in a subtle, yet direct way, Paul is telling them, if you were not worshipping the true God, you are without God.
How do you think this would settle today? We have a culture that has many things that are worshiped as God or in the place of God. Yet to the Buddhist, we can say, “They are without hope and without God.” The same could be said for the atheist, the Muslim, the wiccan, or the Mormon and yes even of the Jews. Why? Because they are all separated from Christ and have an idea and worship of a god that is NOT the true God.
The result? They are without hope. Perhaps you have had conversations with followers of other faiths and they seem very hopeful…but there is still an air of uncertainty. I’ve talked with a Muslim neighbor that “hopes” Allah will be merciful. I’ve talked with a Jehovah Witness who “hopes” Jehovah will count them good enough. I’ve talked with a Jew who hopes their goodness in life is good enough.
Apart from God, apart from Christ we are without hope because we are without the true God.
Not only is it others, but this was our condition as we came into the world. Not a great place to be…but it’s not where we stayed. Look for tomorrow’s devotion for what changes things!
Apply: When have you felt hopeless in this world? How did reconnecting with the Lord restore hope in your heart?
Prayer: Lord, we realize we had no claim on citizenship in your kingdom. We are grateful that your heart of love did not desire that we remain without you or without hope. Thank you for taking us from outside your kingdom and bringing us near to you. AMEN.
The blessing of Citizenship…
This week’s devotions are based on Week 4 of the Series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are (CLICK HERE)
Citizenship.
For most of you reading this, you were probably born on American soil. With that birth certificate signed by a hospital on US soil, you were given the rights of American citizenship. You don’t have to pass a test, take a competency test or prove your loyalty to our country. By birth you were “in.” For a smaller portion of Americans, they went through a lengthy legal process that applied for citizenship and then included study of American history, taking a test and pledging their loyalty to our country.
It’s no wonder that the debate about illegal immigration rages on when the boarders of our country are to protect our citizens and what it means to be a US citizen. It’s a big deal. It’s an important matter.
For a US citizen, we are governed by our founding documents of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Our branches of government, legislative processes, and judicial protections are guided by what is written in the documents. As a US citizen, we are invited to be part of the process to choose our representatives in government, respect our country and pledge allegiance to our flag.
The purpose of this devotion to start the week isn’t to be commentary on current political events, but simply to get us thinking about what it means to be a citizen of a country.
Because for the Christian, we also are a citizen of another kingdom: the kingdom of God. Great blessings are given to citizens of God’s kingdom and it comes with many rights and privileges. Yet we were not just simply born into this citizenship. We didn’t earn this citizenship, but rather it too is a gift of God’s grace. This week we will delve into these words of the Apostle Paul which teach us about this status we enjoy as a Citizen of God’s Kingdom:
Ephesians 2:11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his 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.
Apply: What do you think is the biggest blessing of being called a “fellow citizen with God’s people”?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the blessing of our country. We ask in this time of political upheaval that you would, as you have promised, guide all affairs for the blessing of your people and the proclamation of your Gospel. As we value our citizens as residents of this country, we ask you to enhance our love, appreciation, and activity for you by making us a citizen of your kingdom. AMEN.