Ephesians 1:3-23

Blessed be fthe God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing gin the heavenly places, 4 heven as he ichose us in him jbefore the foundation of the world, that we should be kholy and blameless before him. In love 5 lhe predestined us1 for madoption as sons through Jesus Christ, naccording to the purpose of his will, 6 oto the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in pthe Beloved. 7 qIn him we have rredemption sthrough his blood, tthe forgiveness of our trespasses, uaccording to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 vmaking known2 to us the mystery of his will, naccording to his purpose, which he wset forth in Christ 10 as a plan for xthe fullness of time, yto unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

11 In him we have obtained zan inheritance, ahaving been predestined baccording to the purpose of him who works all things according to cthe counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be dto the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard ethe word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, fwere sealed with the gpromised Holy Spirit, 14 who is hthe guarantee3 of our iinheritance until jwe acquire kpossession of it,4 lto the praise of his glory.

15 For this reason, mbecause I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love5 toward all the saints, 16 I ndo not cease to give thanks for you, oremembering you in my prayers, 17 that pthe God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, qmay give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 rhaving the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is sthe hope to which he has called you, what are tthe riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, uaccording to the working of vhis great might 20 that he worked in Christ wwhen he raised him from the dead and xseated him at his right hand yin the heavenly places, 21 zfar above aall rule and authority and power and dominion, and above bevery name that is named, not only in cthis age but also in the one to come. 22 And dhe put all things under his feet and gave him as ehead over all things to the church, 23 fwhich is his body, gthe fullness of him hwho fills iall in all.

A Working Faith

I took a second listen to Pete's sermon from this Sunday on "Real Faith." There are many ways I'm reminded that I am not in control of my life right now. When I don't feel I'm in control, I am tempted to fear instead of faith, which leads to unbelief expressed in sinful attitudes and works as opposed to the good works of righteousness. This sermon was a gentle and firm call to continue in the fight for faith and good works by the grace of God and not my own willpower.
I want to grow in looking for opportunities and situations for my faith to be expressed, and not cower in fear that my faith will be tested. In reality, I don't have to look for these opportunities, because I'm living in the middle of them right now and am grateful I can see how the Lord guided me into desiring them and now in living them out. I pray that God will grow my faith and strengthen me so that I may not "grow weary in doing good" (Gal 6:9) but be refreshed in the knowledge that "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence," (2 Peter 1:3)

I took notes, well actually more like transcribed sections of, the sermon below.

James 2: 14-26

We cannot use the work of God in us as a reason not to work. Eph 2:8-10- “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” …We don’t gain our salvation by these works, but b/c we have salvation in Jesus Christ we work.

2:14-17 James is primarily talking to believers [who are] going on about the faith that they have but not demonstrating the faith that they have.

The dichotomy isn’t whether you have faith or works; the true dichotomy is whether your faith is real or it’s not. Because if your faith is real, you will have works. And if your faith is not real you will not have works.

How is your faith working today? Is it working?
Real faith is a working faith.

Vs 20-24

Real faith anticipates. It looks for the time of expression. Do you look for the time for your faith to be expressed and completed? You know when that is, right? When Jesus returns and you see him, your faith becomes sight and it’s complete. Until then, there are many small completions of our faith. And you know what they are? They’re the work that we do, because faith anticipates. It looks forward to the time of expression. It looks for the opportunity.

[my note: Do I look forward to opportunities for my faith to be tested and proven genuine? Though it may be hard work, how sweet it is to be tested and found firm in Christ! With faith, I can say to the Lord, “bring it on, I am ready to do your will.” ]

Faith looks like saying, “God give me an opportunity to demonstrate, to work.”

This is where the completion of your faith happens. It’s looking for an opportunity to be employed, to go to work, to be active, for a time of expression. It’s looking forward to that. Are you looking forward to that? Or are you avoiding it? “ohh, I hope it doesn’t come to me. Is it gonna come to me?” Well, it’s gonna come to you! So employ your faith….Are you ready to lay down your life for Jesus? Would you even welcome that opportunity to employ faith in Jesus Christ to the point of your death? If you are, I think you’ll be ready to take every opportunity the Lord gives us.  That’s what we need to be working towards, to employ our faith to that level. Don’t you want to be a friend of God? Who would you rather be called a friend of?

Vs. 25

[Rahab’s] faith went to work. Just like mine and yours must go to work. And it should give us great hope that no matter who we are, no matter where we are today dear friends – this is not a hopeless message, this isn’t a brow beating message that says “come on, get your act together people.” There is a caution in it, there is a correction in it, but it’s also meant to stir our faith and to say “listen, you’re looking at that sin, you’re looking at that situation, you’re saying ‘there’s no way!’ Well, have faith dear friend and go to work with it.” Put your faith to work. Believe. Trust.  Be steadfast. Keep walking. Take the next step. Don’t  give up. Be like Christ. Trust him. There will be grace there. Your hope in God will not be disappointed. It wasn’t for Abram. It wasn’t for Rahab. And it will not be for you and for me.

Vs. 26

Works in the name of Jesus are spiritual. A body that has a spirit is alive and effects everything around us.

Real faith is a working faith. Is your faith working? Let’s trust God to work in and through us. Let’s be Christians in this world...This is soul stirring, hopeful truth. Don’t you want to be a friend of God? Don’t you want to walk with God? This is how we can do it.

 
[Opportunity for the good work of loving others, especially when aware of the risk it requires, need not be met by fear but by anticipation for my faith to rise and stand firm whatever the cost. There is a sweet beauty in the expression of faith through works. Just as we can look to Abraham for an example of a working faith, so also I can look to his wife Sarah - 1 Peter 3:6 says: And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening." Pretty cool namesake to look up to, if I do say so myself.]

photo: old and new building (in reflection) on a walk
back from the mailbox at work, last week

Sweetness in the Messiness

Today I was reminded of Paul Tripp's conference: Your Walk with God is a Community Project. I went to this last July at Covenant Fellowship Church with a friend. And even though I only attended the first session, it was really good. I took out my notes and here are a couple highlights:

"You are always living out of some sense of identity;""God will take you where you do not want to go in order to produce in you what you could not achieve on your own;""If you want to know the true quality of your relationship with God, look at the quality of your relationship with others;""God calls you to a certain quality of relationships because he means to use those relationships for his purpose."

Even simply checking out the promo video on his site, I was encouraged with the following:

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit - just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call - one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. - Ephesians 4:1-6

When Paul thinks about what it means to live in a way that's worthy of the gospel, the very first thing that comes to mind is relationships. We were not hardwired to live this Christian experience by ourselves.

If you are going to grow and if you are going to be an instrument of growth of others, you have to understand this theology of uncomfortable grace.

I move toward you, not because I trust you. I move toward you knowing that we're both broken and this is potentially messy. I move toward you because I trust the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, and there is hope for us. It's the cross that drives me toward you.

These words speak such helpful truth. I have found them to be true in my own life, and I am faith filled that they will continue to be true in the future, because God's word is truth. God's word is life. Christian fellowship is deeply sweet, through both the happy and messy times.

photo: Grandma & Granddaddy; Grand Canal Venice, Italy 2007

Making the best use of the time

"making the best use of the time . . . be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:16-20

"Making the best use of the time," - what does this look like? Where should my thoughts and energies go right now, today? I believe it looks like getting to know God and delighting in him. "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever" (Westminster Catechism). Guess what? Today is part of forever, and I can do that right now because "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence" 2 Peter 1:3.

As I think of my future, whether the next few years, months, or even the next day, I can allow anxiousness, discontentment, purposelessness, boredom, weariness, loneliness, or hopelessness to cloud my view. I think it has something to do with focusing on my circumstances and own efforts and leaving God out of the equation. But Matthew 6:31-33 has something to say to me: "Therefore do not be anxious . . . [why not?] your heavenly Father knows . . . seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness."

Look up to God and off of myself. Look back at what He's done in my life, others lives, and at the cross. Position my mind and heart where I will be compelled to worship God, in the word, in fellowship, in service, and even in song.

This phrase, "making the best," means to "buy up, rescue from loss, or improve" the use of time. It is a metaphor taken from the merchants and traders of the ancient Near East, who aggressively pursued the best deals when they would buy, sell, or trade" (p. 19 in Shopping for Time by Carolyn Mahaney and daughters).

When I returned home from work today, I knew there was only about an hour of good daylight left. It was a beautiful day, reaching a high of 64 degrees! This is a rare treat in February, that cannot be tucked away and used later. In fact, the temperature is forecasted to fall more than 20 degrees from Friday to Saturday. So how do I "make the best" of that hour? I ask my sister to go on a walk with me, because just being outdoors is precious time I don't want to lose. And I am doubly blessed by the sun and conversational presence of my sister.

And what do I want to buy up in this short "hour" of my current season of life? Maybe wash the dishes for my mom or bake a batch of cookies for Margaret to take to school, because I am here in my family's home and enjoy swapping an office for a kitchen. And while I'm at it, I can improve my kitchen time by calling a friend to hear more details on her marriage proposal this weekend and celebrate with her before the passing of a week has opportunity to dampen any of the fresh memories. And I can think in the evening of how I want to meditate on the truth found in God's word before I start my day tomorrow, so I actually anticipate rising early and not count it a loss to say goodbye to my evening as I lay down my head.

And if any of these efforts spring from a joyful and thankful heart in God, it is all of grace. It's all because of Jesus that I can have life, and have it abundantly. Looking to my Savior, learning more of his majesty and greatness, stepping into obedience with faith, crying in desperate acknowledgment that I need him and am lost without him - this is the beauty of grace.

I want to rest at the side of my Savior, and be enamored so much by his strength and beauty that all else fades in comparison.

photo: 2/17/11

patience, meekness, unity

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. . . . Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians: 4:1-3, 15-16)

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:12-17)

God's Word is not like any other written word. God's words are life!

photo: Elya on Crossway Church farm, 11/7/10