Hello, welcome to 2021!
I like to look at a new year like a brand new notebook. If you’re like me, surprises, change, and the anticipation of new experiences excites you. Others, like my sister, prefer when things are predictable. Whatever your personality, a New Year is always a good time to reevaluate your pursuits and purpose.
Every year I like to claim a passage of scripture to meditate on. It helps me to get a Biblical perspective on my plans and then establish a practical way to move forward.
(Last year’s passage was 2 Peter 1: 2-10. This is a really great step by step process to ensure that you will “never fall”. Check it out!)
This year the passage God gave me is:
Ephesians 3:14-19
“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family and heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”
I would like to encourage everyone to read the entire Book of Ephesians. It is an amazing book written to people who are “in Christ” – saved people. (Ephesians 1:1) Almost all the references I use in this article come from this book of the Bible.
Focusing on Ephesians three, we see that the first part is about Paul’s ministry. If you read carefully you can see that he is writing in a state of awe. He is so amazed that God chose him to preach Christ to the Gentiles.
Starting at verse 14, it’s like reading his dedication prayer.
• Vs. 14-15. Paul addresses his prayer to the “Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”. Notice the use of the word “our”! Also, notice that the whole family in heaven and earth is called by the Father’s name. So, whether we use the word Christian or Children of God we are being called by the Father’s name. In other words; Christ is God!
• Vs. 16. It is God by the Spirit that strengthens our inner man. When you are weak and discouraged, pray that God will fill you with His Spirit. What is the key to knowing if you’re full?
Ephesians 5:19-21
“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”
There is a three-point outline in those verses. If you automatically sing, say thank you, and submit; it’s a good indication you are full of the Spirit!
Also, see the reference in verse 20 to the “Father” and “our Lord Jesus Christ”?
• Vs. 17. Christ in our hearts by faith grounds us in love.
Verse 19 is really what I want to focus on. If we follow the thought back to 16+17 we see that being filled with the Spirit and Christ in our hearts is the key to comprehension.
Ok, so verse 19:
Ephesians 3:19
“And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”
“….to know the love of Christ…”
WHAT BETTER PURSUIT FOR 2021?!
Maybe you are wondering why that’s such a “wow” phrase for me? After all, the verse says it's “past knowledge”, so we are never gonna completely understand until heaven.
Let me explain for a minute.
I got saved when I was almost 7. I was old enough to understand that I was a sinner and Jesus died and rose again to take the punishment for my sins. I knew I needed to repent and trust in Him to save me. Please understand – that’s enough! Jesus saved me!
However, as I grow in my relationship with God, I understand more about what happened on that day.
It’s kinda like a child who was rescued from drowning. Obviously, they know when they called for help, someone heard and saved them. They did not die. They remember trusting their rescuer. I’m sure they would love him in a childlike way for what he did. But the older they get, the more they understand the danger they were in and the details of the rescue. They understand the sacrifice the rescuer made, and they can form a meaningful relationship with him.
I think of myself as that child. I understand a lot more about what happened on the day I was saved than I did on that day. Justification, redemption, mercy, and grace, mean a lot more to me now than they did then.
Being saved as a child is wonderful! Personally, I think it is best. But God wants us to grow up.
Ephesians 4:14-15
“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”
So, I encourage you – get to know your Saviour! Study Ephesians chapter 1 and see what happened when you got rescued!
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Quote for the month:
“For those who are comfortable with the world they know, miracles are unwelcome intrusions.”
- Thom Lemmons
Praising Jesus for Scripture, songs, and snow!!! “Hey” from Nova Scotia!
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