Ephesians 2:11-22 In this section Paul addresses the Gentile believers, asking them to remember...

We were called the "uncircumcision"  the unregenerate... the un-chosen.
We were separate from Christ.
We were excluded from Israel.
We were strangers to the Promise of God.
We were without hope.
We were without God.

"But now"... because of "the blood of Christ":
We are brought near.
We have Him who is "our peace".
We are made one with the Jewish believers.
We are reconciled, along with them, "to God through the cross".
We have "access in one Spirit to the Father".
We are no longer strangers or aliens.
We are "fellow citizens with the saints".
We are "of God's household". 
We are "being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit". 

Christ alone.. Cornerstone - It is through His cross that this great transformation is accomplished.
He is our Peace.  He abolished the "enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace."

We are fellow heirs; fellow members of the body; fellow partakers of the promise in Christ.. the "unfathomable riches of Christ" and the "love of Christ which surpasses knowledge" are ours too!

Father in Heaven, Wonderful and Awesome God of all glory,  open our eyes to see and our hearts to receive this Word of Truth.  Help us to remember the depth of Your love for us and the greatness of Your kindness towards us, that we should be called the children of God.  We, who had no hope, have been given a living hope. We, who were separated, are now united with You. We, who were strangers, are now part of the family.  We, who had no purpose or future, have become the dwelling place of God.  Amazing grace!  Thank You, Lord God.

Ephesians 2  Verse 10 tells us we are the handiwork of God, He has created, manufactured us in Christ Jesus for the purpose of "good works".  God has prepared those works for us "that we should walk in them".   How do we walk in good works?

Paul writes in Eph. 4:1-3 " ... walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience and forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." 
In Titus 3:14 he writes, " And let our people also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, that they may not be unfruitful."  And in 2:14 " Christ Jesus... who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds".  3:8 " .. be careful to engage in good deeds. These are things good and profitable for men." 
Paul's prayer recorded in Col.1 includes this "we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work... " ( v9-10)
Romans 12:2 and 21  also address this subject, " And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is,  that which is good and acceptable and perfect"  and " Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." 

There are many more passages that we could look at, but just thinking about these few we can say that God's purpose for us is to walk in a way that pleases Him and is worthy of His calling.  We do this by:
Being humble.
Being gentle.
Being patient and forbearing.
Loving one another.
Being in unity and peace with one another.
Helping each other with pressing needs.
Doing those things that are profitable, of value.

We can only walk this way as we are filled with "spiritual wisdom and understanding"... We must be filled with the Spirit of God, to know Him and to know His will.  To "prove" or discern the will of God, we must be "transformed" by the Spirit of God, Who renews our minds. Then we can know what is "good and acceptable and perfect" and "overcome evil with good."

Oh Father God, Almighty Jehovah, we look to You once again, that You might complete us. Sanctify us entirely, taking our bodies, souls, and spirits as we present ourselves.. living sacrifices to You.  We  cannot do good unless You fill us with Yourself.  Holy Spirit, our Helper, we must have Your holy power that we might walk a worthy walk that pleases our Father. Fill us now, continually we pray, in the Name of the Lord Jesus, our glorious Savior and King, Amen.

Ephesians 2  Verses 1-3 describe the unbeliever - dead!   Trespasses and sin cause death.  This way of living is the way of the world, it is the way of "the prince of the power of the air", it is a spirit that leads men to disobedience.  Dead men live to satisfy their lusts, to indulge their flesh and their minds.  Their passions rule their existence.  This is the state of every man, woman, and child without Christ.  We are born with this nature and it does nothing but grow worse... unless God intervenes!

"But God being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions made us alive together with Christ..." ( v4-5)   God is merciful.  He has great compassion and is gracious, because He is filled with Love.  In Christ, we have been made alive, raised up, and placed into His family.  "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God".  Again, Paul emphasizes the fact that there is nothing that we have done or can do that will save us from the judgement we deserve.  We cannot ever make ourselves alive when we are dead!  Only God brings life.

Why does He do this for us?

".. in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."  (v7).. For eternity we will display God's kindness.  We won't walk around heaven bragging that we got there by our own works... we will have nothing to boast about.  We will give all the glory to Him!

" We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works..."  We are His product, manufactured in Christ.  This "new self" is "in the likeness of God".   It is created, manufactured, in "righteousness and holiness of the truth" ( Eph 4:24) It is "being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him" (Col. 3:10).    In Genesis 1:26  God said, " Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness..."  Now, in Christ, we are being restored to that image and likeness.  God Himself is sculpting and painting and finishing us, His creation, His product, which will forever display His greatness.

Father, full of love and grace and glorious in every way,  we bless Your Name.  You have shown us mercy and compassion, for You are altogether kind.  Thank You.  Complete the work You have begun in us that we might fully display Your greatness. Have Your way, O Divine Potter, we are Your clay.
Spirit of God, our Helper, come and fill us with the knowledge of God, with wisdom and truth.  May our every breath be in You.  May our every step be in the footsteps of Jesus our Lord, in whose Name we pray. amen.

Ephesians 1:15-23  Here we find one of Paul's prayers, one of the last he wrote down... one that we can pray ourselves for those we love... "making mention of you in my prayers..." 

 I pray "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe . "

Paul's first request focuses on the gift of the Holy Spirit. For He is the spirit of wisdom and revelation.  BKC - " Wisdom gives insight into the true nature of the things, and revelation is the unveiling of the object discussed, namely, God Himself".  Our vital need is to know God, intimately and personally, not just facts or ideas about Him.  In order to know God, we must receive His Spirit.  The eyes of our hearts must be enlightened.  This is God's desire for us and He alone can do it. 

There are 3 things that we can "know" when are hearts are enlightened by the Spirit of God:

1. We can know the "hope of His calling".  It is our Gracious Father who has called us to salvation and has given us hope.  BKC - " Hope in Scripture is the absolute certainty of a believer's victory in God."   Peter calls this a "living hope" ( 1 Peter 1:3) the anticipated expectation of Life for all eternity. 

2. We can know "the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints".  BKC - " At the time of the resurrection of believers (saints).. God will inherit those whom He has purchased at a great price according to the riches of His grace."  We are God's inheritance!  And He is ours! 

3. We can know "what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. "  This "power" means " a spiritually dynamic and living force" ( BKC) and is directed toward believers.  It is power that works, that overcomes resistance, that reveals His strength, that same power that "raised Him ( Christ) from the dead and seated Him at His right hand...."  Again the Bible Knowledge Commentary helps clarify - " What an amazing source of spiritual vitality, power and strength for living the Christian life!"   God's power is made known as He places  Jesus  over every "rule and authority and power and dominion...."  He put "all things in subjection under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all." 

Father of all glory, God of our Lord Jesus Christ,  we pray that You would give us Your Spirit, the Spirit of wisdom and revelation that we would know You intimately.  We want to know the past call of salvation which produces a living hope;  we want to know the future inheritance that You have in us; and we want to know the present power of God available to us who believe.  Every spiritual blessing is in Christ Jesus.  Every future hope is in Him.  Christ is all in all, according to Your perfect will. We ask that You would grant these requests for our families, for our brothers and sisters, for all of Your church.  In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Ephesians 1:1-14   We bless God, the Father of Jesus Christ.. we praise Him and speak of His greatness.. we honor Him... for Who He is and for what He has done.  It is our heavenly Father, Elohim, our Creator and Sovereign God, Who has blessed us with "every spiritual blessing".    He has provided "every spiritual enrichment needed for spiritual life" ( Bible Knowledge Commentary).
Every blessing that has been provided for us and to us is based on the work of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The Father elected and predestined us. 
The Son died for us. 
The Spirit sealed us. 

God chose us. "Salvation is God's doing, not man's" ( BKC)  It is by His Grace.  This election was completed in eternity past.  He chose us so that He could make us holy and blameless.  He predestined us to be His sons and daughters, adopted through Jesus Christ.  This  is " according to the kind intention of His will".  He took pleasure in choosing us, in giving us a glorious destiny, and in making us His children.  This work should and will result in "the praise of the glory of His Grace". 

The Son, Jesus Christ, is the sphere, the cornerstone, the way, that God brings about the plan of His redemption. It is through Jesus that we are adopted.  It is "in" Him that grace has been "freely bestowed".  It is in Him that we have redemption, "through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses".  God's will and pleasure is to bring everything "in heaven and on earth" under the headship of Jesus Christ.  Jews and Gentiles alike are brought into one body through Christ.  This is the mystery, the secret or hidden Truth, now revealed in Him.   Again this results in the "praise of His glory "

The Spirit is the instrument of God's sealing.  He secures us, authenticates us, and certifies our genuineness  in Christ.  He is the "deposit that guarantees our inheritance".  He is the downpayment.  It is by Him that we are guaranteed salvation and heaven... to the praise of the glory of God.

Holy God, our Father and Jesus Christ , our Lord, Precious Spirit of the Living God, we come to give You praise.  We praise the glory of Your Grace.  You have chosen us to be Your own children, by Your grace, and You give us faith to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior.  You give to us Your own Holy Spirit, a deposit of Your Grace to come in eternity.  You have even given us the wisdom and understanding to begin to grasp the greatness of Your Truth.  Open the eyes of our hearts, that we might "know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints."  Fill us, Lord, with Yourself, to know You more.  Amen.

2 Samuel 23-24  David, once again showing his flawed humanity, takes a census in Israel.  He finds our that there are 800.000 fighting men in Israel, and 500,000 more in Judah.  After receiving this information, David realizes his sin and repents.  The Lord gives him 3 options - 7 years  of famine; 3 months of being pursued by enemies, or 3 days of pestilence in the land.  David choses the last one because he trusts the Lord's mercy more than an army of men. 70,000 men die of this plague.  Who knows how many women and children died also.  Yet, God did have mercy and stopped the plague before it  reached Jerusalem. David saw "the angel who was striking down the people" while he was standing on the threshing floor of Araunah.  David purchases this land and builds an altar as instructed by the Lord. "Thus the Lord was moved by entreaty for the land, and the plague was held back from Israel." 

David's eyes were opened to see the consequences of his personal sins.  He took responsibility and made the sacrifices.  But, that did not change the fact that many people died.  The results of our sins may not be as drastic as David's, but there are still consequences.. and God still desires our repentance.  He still punishes sin.  He still requires a sacrifice.  Oh, how wonderful to know that Jesus Christ the Lord, has paid it all!  How much we owe Him!  Thanksgiving and praise and honor belong to our Wonderful Redeemer and Savior.

" Jesus paid it all!  All to Him we owe! Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow!"

Father, remind us again of the depth of Your love and the Greatness of Your redemption!  Let us not grow complacent or take for granted the salvation that You provided, nor the precious blood that was shed to pay the great price.  Stir our hearts anew with praise and thanksgiving.  Open our eyes to see You and our ears to hear Your voice.  May we worship and serve You in spirit and in truth, with whole hearts devoted to You, loving You with all of our hearts and minds, and souls.  For the glory and honor and power is Yours!  Blessed Jesus, it is in Your Name we pray. Amen.

2 Samuel 21-22 David is getting physically weaker, but spiritually stronger.  His last battle is again with the Philistines and the giants of Gath, just as his first battle was.   This time though, others slayed the giants.  

David's psalm is recorded here and in Psalm 18.  David makes clear his confession by declaring that God is:  
His rock.
His fortress.
His deliverer.
His God.
His refuge.
His shield.
The horn of His salvation.
His stronghold.
His refuge.
His savior.
His support.
His lamp.
His tower. 

David called on the Lord, he obeyed the Word of the Lord,  he worshipped the Lord, and He gave thanks to the Lord.  All through this journey that David has taken, from shepherd boy to king of Israel, David has clung to and trusted in the Lord.  He takes no honor or credit for his own actions, but gives all glory to God.
" He heard my voice."
" He bowed the heavens and came down.." 
" He rescued me.."
It is God who executed vengeance and brought down nations.  It is God who showed lovingkindness to David.

Father in heaven,  You are the same with each of us as You were with David.  You alone are our hope and salvation, our refuge and deliverer.  Thank You for showing lovingkindness to us also. Thank you for hearing our calls for help and for leading us in Your ways.  Be our rock and salvation forever.  Be glorified about all the earth, for You alone are God.  Our God, our help in ages past, our help in the days to come.  Fill us with Your Spirit once again that we might serve You fully.  In the Name of Jesus we pray, amen.