Home For Christmas

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.  Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!  And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

Luke 2:8-14

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I had an old, Ford Taurus when I was in college, and one day it broke down.  It was a few days before Christmas, and all of a sudden, the heat went out.  In Wisconsin, it's a big deal to lose heat in your car.  It's like running out of sweet tea at a wedding in the south.  You can't have one without the other :)

So I quickly dialed the number to a local mechanic, and found out that the repairs would cost me $250.  At that moment most people would be rejoicing that their car repairs were only $250, but to a 20 year old college kid whose annual salary is $245, this was a lot of money!  So in my anger and discouragement, I called my mom and told her I wouldn't be coming home for Christmas.  I was angry at God for allowing my car to break, and I didn't want to celebrate His birthday.  

 

I admit that my selfishness amazes me sometimes, especially after I read Luke 2:8-14.  According to Luke's account, while I was pouting over my misfortune, the rest of the universe was rejoicing.  In fact, light broke through the darkness that night, and an angel of the Lord declared in a booming voice, "GOOD NEWS!"

 

Can you imagine the astonishment that ran through the angel's mind as he proclaimed that message?  Consider for a moment that this angel had begun it's very existence in God's presence and had been worshiping before the throne ever since.  To this angel, God was the Alpha and Omega, the LORD of hosts, the King of Kings, and the creator and sustainer of the universe.  But now the most powerful Being in the universe was a tiny baby laying helplessly in a dirty manger.

And immediately upon delivering the message of good news, the whole sky lights up as a multitude of angels join in to sing praises to God: 

 

"Glory to God in the Highest!" 

 

That, right there, is the appropriate response to Christmas, but it's not the response that I'm interested in right now.  The response I'm interested in, is Jesus' response to mankind's rebellion.  

 

See, while I was punishing God for my misfortune, He was leaving his throne in order to rescue me.  In fact, He came to earth with the purpose of saving the very people who put him to death on a cross.  That, my friends, is response I'm most interested in!

 

As you can see, I completely missed the significance of Christmas that year, but my prayer is that it would never happen again.  I pray that all of us remain amazed that the King and Creator of world loves us enough to give up His life in order to bring us home for Christmas.

How God Loves

I wanted to read a definition of the word "love" today, so I powered up my computer and went to urbandictionary.com.  In my limited experience, I've found that the internet is the only reliable source of information, especially if that information is open sourced.  Anyways, here are 5 helpful* definitions:

1. Either a horrible disease or a blessing.
2. Nature's way of tricking people into reproducing
3. Most people use the word "love" to get into someone else's pants.
4. A zero score in tennis.
5. A word used by many, but understood by few.

My favorite is number 4, although I can really resonate with number 5.  I personally use the word "love" to describe a wide range of emotions.  For example:

"I love tacos."  
This is probably the one I use the most.  Many times I'm merely exaggerating, although I do love tacos...

"I love you man."  
Usually the way I say "thank you," in response to a kind act.

"I love you, Ashley."
This allows me to encourage my wife without having to exhaust a lot of my resources.

It's clear that there are various levels of meaning behind the word "love," and with this is mind, what do phrases like: "God is love" or "For God so loved the world..." actually mean?  Lets use the examples that I provided above.

• Is God's love an exaggeration of truth?  
• Is God's love based on His appreciation for something we do?  
• Is God's love a substitute for actually demonstrating concern?

I've never thought about this before, but Good Friday reveals that God has a unique definition for the word, "love."  Good Friday shows that God wasn't using hype to sell us a bunch of junk.  It shows that He wasn't trying to thank us for acting nicely.  It also shows that He wasn't taking the easy way out.  Good Friday shows that God's definition requires action, and this is how it looks:


God created humans to spend eternity in relationship with Him. The only stipulation was that Humans had to obey God and treat one another with love and equality. Humans rejected that plan, and decided to be their own bosses instead. Their choice resulted in a painful existence where people hurt God, hurt each other and hurt the rest of creation. Justice demands punishment for the perpetrator, and protection of the victims. Because everyone is both a victim and a perpetrator, the only just punishment is total isolation. This punishment broke God's heart, so He created a rescue plan. God was the only victim who was not guilty of hurting others, so He was the only one who didn't deserve punishment. God used His opportunity to take the punishment for people by coming to earth as a man named Jesus, and allowing people to kill Him. This action maintained justice and taught victims how to forgive their perpetrator. In order to prove that justice was served, Jesus rose from the dead three days later, and appeared to 500 people. Today it's possible for anyone to have a relationship with God if they chose to accept Jesus' sacrifice as their punishment. They do this by acknowledging their disobedience, asking God for forgiveness, submitting to Jesus as their boss and choosing to forgive other people. People who refuse these terms will face a just punishment, which results in isolation from God and others.


This year, remember that "love" meant a whole lot to God.

God's Loving Plan for Battling Sin: Day 3

I've learned three things about being a christian over the years.  First, it’s hard to live in an honorable way.  Humans like to do things their way.  We want to rebel and serve ourselves.  It's hard to show God the love He deserves, especially when He asks us to love our enemies.  With that being the case, the Christian life is a life of war.  We need to constantly fight against our natural tendency to sin.  

The second thing I've learned is that God is always with me.  It might not feel as though God is always there, but I know He is.  He loves us and has given each of us various gifts so that we can help other people. 

Finally, God also taught me that He is patient and willing to help me overcome my weaknesses if I am willing to turn to Him for help. This means that I can fight against the greed in my life by using the weapons He provided: prayer, reading the bible, and remembering that He has already forgiven me through the sacrifice of Jesus.

As we end our bible study, we need to remember the importance of God's love and forgiveness. God has forgiveness us because He loves us, and that love and forgiveness should encourage us to turn away from sin when we recognize it in our lives. Jesus died for us so we can live for Him, so let's thank God for His amazing love by choosing to love Him and love other people.

Read Paul's final greeting in Ephesians 6:21-34 (NLT):

To bring you up to date, Tychicus will give you a full report about what I am doing and how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper in the Lord’s work. I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you.

Peace be with you, dear brothers and sisters, and may God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you love with faithfulness. May God’s grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.

Answer the following questions:

1. What is Tychicus commended for?
2. Why did Paul send Tychicus to the believers?
3. What is Paul's final prayer for the believers?
4. How have you grown in your understanding of God's love?

God's Loving Plan for Battling Sin: Day 2

I mentioned earlier that I felt a strong desire to quit my former sales job after I began growing closer to the Lord.  I don't know if that's common, but for me it came down to two main reason. Initially, I wanted to run from the temptations I felt at work, but God taught me that sometimes I need to fight against sin instead of running from my problems.  Then I began to desire full-time ministry work, but that required a fight as well.

I can still remember the resistance I faced as I began moving from sales into ministry; financial issues, relational issues, scheduling issues, etc.  Although these were valid concerns, it seemed as though my excitement was able to override them.  Unfortunately there was one problem that my excitement couldn't solve: my terror. 

My fear was usually strongest during the night as I laid alone in the dark.  I felt as though my mind was interrogating me as I thought about my upcoming mission trip. 

"Is your God big enough to save you, Josh?"

"Does your God love you, or is He merely using you to accomplish His mission?"

Other times my thoughts would blatantly lie to me:

"You are going to die on your trip Josh"

"God doesn't love you."

I couldn't find rest even upon falling asleep, because usually my dreams resulted in nightmares that woke me up.  I was sleeping only a few hours a night, and dreaded being alone.  It was scary, discouraging and tiring, but in the midst of it, God helped me realize that something sinister was happening.  I was being attacked, and there was only one way to fight back.

Read Paul's instructions for Spiritual Warfare in Ephesians 6:10-20 (NLT):

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.

Answer the following questions:

1. What does Paul reveal about the Christian battle?
2. What is the purpose of spiritual armor?
3. List each piece of armor and what it's used for.
4. Paul tells us to pray for all believers. Who do you pray for regularly?

Weekly Challenge:

Paul was a strong leader who endured suffering and persecution in order to share the good news that God loves people. Paul remained humble by remembering that his success was dependent upon God, and therefore, he needed prayer for strength. Take time to pray for your church leaders, and write an encouraging note to your pastors in order to thank them for boldly sharing the gospel with others.

God's Loving Plan for Battling Sin: Day 1

As God continued growing my faith, He also grew my abilities.  I was volunteering in a local church, and working as a sales person for an insurance company.  Eventually, I began to feel drawn away from my sales position at the insurance company, partially because I didn't feel comfortable with the direction of the company. I initially tried to remove myself from tempting situations by asking my boss to relocate me, but he denied my request. His decision required me to choose between submitting or quitting. I decided to submit, and that turned out to be the best choice I could have made.

The following year I made a lot of money through a series of miraculous circumstances, and was able to pay off a lot of my financial debt! Incredibly, this happened even though I was less focused on making money and more focused helping my clients succeed. I eventually learned how to use my job as a way to support and encourage the other believers whom I worked with.

During this time, I realized that God didn't want me to run from my problems, instead; He wanted me to fight against sinful desires. The fight against sin is a spiritual battle, and that means we must fight with spiritual weapons. This week we are going to look at the weapons we use to fight against sin.

Read about submission in Ephesians 6:1-9 (NLT):

Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.

Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites.

Answer the following questions:

1. What does this passage reveal about relationships between parents and children?
2. What does this passage reveal about relationships between bosses and employees?
3. What does this passage reveal about relationships between people and God?
4. Which of your relationships (family, work or God) are you currently struggling with? How are you encouraged by this passage?

God's Loving, Correction: Day 3

In my last blog I wrote about a friend who was angry at God, because he felt as though God was rejecting him.  My friend believed that God created him with flaws and then judged him based on those flaws.  I can understand his discouragement and anger, but I believe he is wrong.  I don't believe God creates junk with the intention of throwing it away.

When we look at how God works throughout the bible, we see a God whose heart is broken by the sin in this world.  Instead of running from the problem, God responds by rolling up His sleeves in order to help.  God initially gave us the choice to follow Him, and then He entered into our world to give us another chance.  And another.  And another.  And another.  And another...(I could do this all day).

God is constantly pursuing us with an intention of healing us and making us better.  And we need His help, because we are messed!  Humans are a mixed bag of glory and gory.  We are gloriously gory.  Created in the image of God, but acting like demons at times.  It's sad, it's frustrating, and it could be so much better.  

As a husband, I can relate to the image of Jesus loving the Church as a husband.  I see Ashley's flaws, and she sees mine.  Instead of focusing on our flaws, we focus on our strengths.  We clean up each other's messes, and let their strengths shine.  That's what I see Jesus doing in the bible.  God sees our potential, and loves us enough to help us achieve greatness.  We will never be a truly great society without His help.  But look at the bible and read it for yourself.

Read about Christ's love for His Church in Ephesians 5:21-33 (NLT):

And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.

For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body.

As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Answer the following questions:

1. Why does Paul teach us about submission?
2. What does Jesus desire for His bride (the Church)?
3. What does this passage teach us about Jesus?
4. What married couple has set a good example for you? How does their relationship relate to the relationship that Jesus has with the Church?

Conclusion:

Christians are on a path towards righteousness, and that means we strive to remove greed, sexual immorality and impurity from our lives. God is ultimately the only one who can remove these issues from our lives, but we are responsible for persisting in our fight against sinful desires. He transforms our thoughts and desires by placing His Spirit inside our hearts. Next week we will discover how to fight against the temptations of this world.

God's Loving, Correction: Day 2

I recently realized an important thing about life after sharing the gospel with a loved one who was very angry at God.  After telling someone that God loved them and wanted to be with them, the guy replied that God shouldn't have made a faulty world that needed to be saved.  When I heard his reply I became sad and frustrated, but I realized that my reply wouldn't help him.  So instead of making things worse, I encouraged him to keep trying to discover who the God of the bible is, and then gave him some resources to help.  I continued thinking about his response after the conversation, though, and realized that he was starting from a non-biblical premise.

The bible shows that God made a perfect world and gave humans the choice to keep it that way.  Genesis 1:31 says that God made everything good.  God made a good world, He made good people, He made a good relationship between Him and man.  It wasn't until after Adam and Eve chose to disobey that the world became full of pain and corruption.  I believe God was testing humans in order to give them the choice to follow Him or be their own God, which bothered my friend.  Don't we all want the freedom to make choices in life?

Unlike my friend, I think we all have the choice to pursue or reject God, and I also believe choosing God is just the beginning.  I believe that we will continue to be tested once we choose God, because those tests will make us stronger in character and intellect.  Knowing that we be tested in life should prompt us to prepare for them, and Paul give us some tips for success in Ephesians 5.

Read about the light of Christ in Ephesians 5:10-20 (NLT):

Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,

“Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Answer the following questions:

1. What does it mean to expose sin, and how do we do it?
2. What are Christians commanded to do in this passage?
3. Contrast the lifestyle of a foolish and wise person. Is your lifestyle more foolish or wise?
4. Think about a current difficulty in your life, and ask God how you can please Him in the midst of that situation?

Weekly Challenge:

Paul uses this passage to instructs us to make the most of opportunities we are given, and we read a similar command in 1 Peter 3:15. In that section, Peter instructs believers to be prepared to give a reason for the hope they have. This week, write a short statement explaining why you are hopeful, and what your hope consists of. Then pray for an opportunity to share that hope with another person.

God's Loving, Correction

I mentioned earlier that my first year of faith was increasingly discouraging, and my second year was increasingly exciting.  My third year began to feel like a combination of challenges and blessings.

  

I experienced blessing as I grew in my understanding of God’s love for me and His desire to use me to show His love to others. These blessings prompted me to spend more time at church, which helped me develop a new community of friends and family. My church family was encouraging, compassionate, and helped me live in a way that honored God. I felt good when I honored God, but I felt ashamed and embarrassed when I didn't. Personally, I found it much harder to live in a way that honored God when I wasn't at church, and therefore, was challenged in my faith during those times.

I was usually at work when I wasn't at church, and during that time I worked as a sales representative for a large insurance company. I was rewarded for my sales and wanted to make money, so I did whatever I could to sell the insurance products. This usually resulted in deceiving and mistreating my customers, and eventually I began to feel convicted during my sales calls. I knew my actions were wrong, and felt like a hypocrite.

I was kind and encouraging when I was at church, but I was deceitful and confrontational when I was at work. This conviction continued to grow inside my heart, until it burst out one day as a customer refused to buy my product.

After the customer told me they didn't want my product, I slammed the phone down and started yelling how stupid and ignorant they were. That’s when a coworker told me I had an anger problem, and I began to realize that I needed to make a change. My lifestyle was offensive to God, and I realized that it hurt other people as well. God helped me understand that I was being greedy, which meant that I was more concerned with money than I was with loving God and other people.

Day 1

Read the reasons for Christian obedience in Ephesians 5:1-9 (NLT):

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

Answer the following questions:

1. Describe the lifestyle that Christians should strive to live.
2. What reasons are given for avoiding sinful lifestyles?
3. Make a list of thing you are grateful for experiencing.
4. Spend time asking God to reveal the immorality, impurity and greed in your life, and then ask Him to help you remove it.

God's Love and the Church: Day 3

I recently told my wife that school is starting to get a lot busier this semester, and then decided to spend 30 minutes taking a free online test in order to discover my strengths and weaknesses.  I remember obtaining my results and literally saying, "That was a complete waste of time."  I guess I have a weakness for free junk.

As I think about it, though, I've taken over 20 personal inventory tests in my life.  I don't take the tests because I love learning about myself; I take the test so I can figure out what I enjoy doing.  I have a dream that one day I will be able to spend 40 hours a week "playing" instead of "working," and in all honesty, I think there are some great reasons for finding a job that you enjoy doing.  For example: 

You will probably work harder and longer; your work will be of higher quality; and the people in your life will enjoy being around you.  But at the same time, there are selfish reasons.  Such as:

You have an unhealthy focus on your wants/desires; you want to brag about your skills; you feel as though you are entitled to a life of comfort and happiness.

The book of Ephesians revealed that God gives people different gifts and abilities.  All of us have been given a gift, but we need to use that gift properly.  Instead of using our abilities to brag about how awesome we are, we should use our gifts to serve others.  More importantly, we use our gifts to help others become the people God originally intended.  But what does God's intention look like?  Let's discover that today.

Read about Christian living in Ephesians 4:17-32 (NLT):

With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Answer the following questions:

1. What does this passage say about non-believers (Gentiles)?
2. What behaviors should Christians remove from their lives and what should they do instead?
3. What does this passage reveal about the Holy Spirit?
4. Which evil behaviors do you struggle with the most? Spend time asking God to help you replace your behaviors.

Conclusion:

Although I was growing in my knowledge of God and my ability to serve His people, I was still struggling to get rid of my bad habits. Ephesians 4 ends by instructing believers to remove all types of evil behavior, but how do we do that? Even to this day I still struggle with anger and impatience at time, but I’m learning that some habits are deeper than others. Many behaviors are the result of deep sins that have corrupted our character and motives. These sins have hardened our hearts, but God restores us by convicting us of those sins and prompting us to repent by asking Him for help. Next week we will examine those deeper issues.

God's Love and the Church: Day 2

A few months ago, my wife and I attended a class at our church.  The leader began talking about relationships, and asked us which people were toughest to be in relationship with.  I thought for a moment, and blurted out, "church people!"  

I wasn't trying to insult other Christians; I was trying to compliment them.  Christians are suppose to be family to one another, and the hardest relationships in life are found among family members.  That's because family members make us suffer in ways that strangers can't.

Now before you start thinking mean things about your extended cousins, let me explain:

I don't mean that family members are mean to one another, I mean that family members are willing to make painful sacrifices for one another.  Sometimes the sacrifice means working hard so the other person can have a break.  Other times it's means having a tough conversation with someone who is making a mistake.  Maybe it even means waking up at 4 am to bail them out of a jam.  

We only wake up at 4 am for family.

So yes, there are times when Church people should be the hardest people to be around, but other times they should be the most amazing people to be around.  Christians are united as a family during the good times AND the bad times... and don't we want it that way?  

I think the best laughs are shared with those who have remained faithful when we had nothing to laugh about.  And that's why I love laughing with God.

Read about God's gifts to His children in Ephesians 4:7-16 (NLT):

However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. That is why the Scriptures say,

“When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.”

Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Answer the following questions:

1. What does this passage reveal about Christ's ascension?
2. What are the gifts that Christ gave to the Church, and what was His purpose in giving them?
3. What happens to the Church when Christians are mature in the Lord?
4. What are your gifts and how are you using them inside of the Church?

Weekly Challenge:

Jesus gives gifts to the Church in order for believers to grow into maturity. The greatest of these gifts is the Holy Spirit, who lives inside the hearts of believers, and enables them become unified through encouragement and service. Ask God to give you the opportunity to encourage someone this week through a note, a gift, an act of service, or some other source of encouragement.

God's Love and the Church

As I look back, I can see a remarkable difference between my first and second year of being a Christian. The first year was very lonely and discouraging, while the second year was exciting and victorious. I didn't grow during the first year, but I exploded during the second year. I believe the difference was due to the level of support.

During my first year of faith I didn't have any Christian friends and I wasn't able to attend church.  I felt trapped, and worried that I failed God.   Eventually one of my friends helped me get to church, and during that second year I grew a lot. I began to see major changes in my life as I spent time with other believers, and even found myself being mentored by two pastors. These were gifted men who encouraged me to volunteer in the church, and spent time teaching me about God and His plan for people.

God has uniquely designed and gifted each person so they can serve others in the Church, so we need to discover and develop our gifts. I learned that I'm an evangelist, and therefore, need develop the ability to communicate the gospel clearly. I also learned how to start a new ministry by working with a team to discover the needs of a community, and then organizing the team to bring solutions. It was an exciting time, and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed being at church.  I saw the person I would eventually become, and had a desire to continue developing. I'm extremely grateful for the support I received from other believers, and the plan God has for His people.

Read about Christian unity in Ephesians 4:1-6 (NLT):

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.

Answer the following questions:

1. What lifestyle should Christians strive for?
2. What reasons motivate Christians to live in a new, godly lifestyle?
3. What does it mean to be united in the Spirit? How do you stay united?
4. When was the last time you disagreed with another Christian? What did you disagree about, and what was the result?

The Passionate and Persistent Love of God: Day 3

In the last blog I mentioned that many times I fail to accept responsibility for my actions, because of a discomfort I feel in my thoughts.  I used the term "cognitive dissonance" to describe the discomfort and it's origin.  But as I continued to think about the concept of cognitive dissonance, I realized that the bible uses the word "conscience" to describe a similar event.  Romans 2:14-15 states that our consciences bears witness to our deeds and our thoughts will either accuse or defend us.  

When we consider that everyone has a conscience and experiences moments of cognitive dissonance in their life, then I believe it's logical to assume that everyone knows they have missed the mark.  They have fallen short of perfection, failed to live up to the highest standard, and carry the guilt and shame of bad choices.  Whether or not a person has read the bible, I think this self-awareness creates a sense of insecurity and fear in all of us.  Fear that we will be found out, and insecure that we will be rejected once our mistakes are brought to life.

To be honest, which one of us hasn't experienced a moment of shame and fear of rejection?  Those moments when we worry that someone will discover our bad habit and mock us?  Or the times when we are afraid to look stupid or dorky because no one will want to be seen in public with us?  What about the times when our guilt is still on our hands?  That happens occasionally, so what do we do?

I think the worse thing we can do is stuff all our dirty little secrets deep down and let them eat us alive (which they will.)  I think the second worse thing we can do is to expose them to everyone in an attempt to declare them acceptable (which society does at times).  I think there is only one good option: share those secrets and failures to a trustworthy person who will accept you unconditionally.  

I know, I get it: "But Josh, who is a completely faithful friend will accept us unconditionally???"  I'm glad you asked...

God promise to be that friend.  Granted, He has standards, but that doesn't mean He won't accept us.  God will always accept us; dirty secrets and all.  The cool thing about God though, is that He is going to help us spend less time in the guilt and shame of life by actually changing our behaviors and desires.  God created the world from scratch, don't you think it's possible He can fix a broken one?

I think the bible clearly reveals that truth...

Read Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21 (NLT):

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

Answer the following questions:

1. Why does Paul fall to his knees in prayer (re-read Ephesians 3:1-13 if necessary)?
2. What does Paul pray for in this section?
3. What is the difference between “understanding” God's love versus “experiencing” it?
4. Are you currently “experiencing” God's love? Why or why not? Share your deepest secret with God right now, and ask Him to reveal His love. (He already knows about your struggles).

Conclusion:

I slowly began to realize that the Christian life is a trajectory in the direction of holiness, but it's not always a straight line. Old habits are hard to break, so we need encouragement and support in order to succeed. We will never succeed without understanding God's love, and His love is best discovered through the family of believers. Next week we will begin to discuss how God's people are created to support each other.

The Passionate and Persistent Love of God: Day 2

I recently read a blog that helped explain why it's hard for people to take responsibility for their mistakes.  The author wanted to know why some people are quick to admit to their mistakes while others blame the world, their upbringing, or anyone in the near vicinity.  I personally have a hard time being around someone who refuses to admit their mistake.  So, what creates that type of behavior?

The author called it cognitive dissonance.

Cognitive dissonance is the discomfort we experience when faced with two conflicting beliefs, attitudes, opinions, or ideas, and it has a remarkable effect on our behaviors and worldview.

The author went on to explain that many people develop an identity at a young age, and sometimes that identity needs to be challenged.  There will always be situations in life that cause you to reevaluate your identity, and that create cognitive dissonance.  How we handle that dissonance will greatly affect various areas in your life.  For example:

Some children are taught that they can be anything they want when they grow up; even the next president.  As they continue to grow up, their "I can do anything" identity will come into question.  Maybe they find out that they are terrified of public speaking, or struggle with abstract concepts, or were born in a foreign country.  Those challenges will create a conflict in their brain and cause them to reevaluate whether or not they truly are able to do ANYTHING.  Some people will refuse to change their identity; calling the world mean, jealous and unfair.  Other people swing to the opposite extreme and say that they are UNABLE to do anything.  A third group might take a moderate approach and realize that they are able to do anything within REASON.  But how does that relate to this study?

As I was reading this study I saw self-justification in my life.  I typically see myself as a "good guy" who has been a victim of my past, and there is some truth in that statement.  Life is unfair at times, sometimes I have good intentions, and it's not good for people to live in isolation.  But that's only part of the truth.  Sometimes I fail to take advantage of the opportunities afforded to me. Sometimes I'm intentionally mean to others.   Sometimes I reject the advice and assistance of others.

We all have made mistakes, we all have done evil things, and we all have rejected wisdom at times.  When those realities create cognitive dissonance, the best thing we can do is turn to God and ask Him to reset our identity.  Acknowledging our sin and turning to Him is repentance.  It's saying, "God, I trust you to tell me who I really am."  Once we let God reset our identity, we will be able to accept His mission for our lives.

Read about God's purpose for the Church in Ephesians 3:8-13 (NLT)

Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.

God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.

Answer the following questions:

1. What is Paul's assignment, and what does he say about it?
2. What is God's purpose for the Church and what role to do you play in that purpose?
3. What does this passage reveal about Jesus Christ and faith?
4. How do you feel about Paul's statement that we can approach God confidently? Why do you feel the way you do?
5. What is your identity?

Weekly Challenge:

Paul felt privileged about sharing the Good News with other people. Paul believed it was a gracious gift to tell other people that they have endless treasures in Christ. Ask God to help you better understand the “Good News” (asking others for help if you need) and pray for an opportunity to share the good news with others.

The Passionate and Persistent Love of God

After deciding to submit to God's plan for my life, I became increasingly aware of His love for me. This awareness initially created a sense of gratitude, but then I lost focus and became distracted. I forgot how addictive and destructive sin was, and quickly fell into old patterns. I felt depressed and ashamed, and although I knew the bible said that God was willing to show love and forgiveness to sinners, I couldn't help but wonder how deep that love was. Could God be patient with someone who kept getting distracted and falling into sin?

I now realize that my misunderstanding of the Christian life was part of reason that I fell back into sin. At the time, I thought Christians were supposed to act a certain way, but I didn't act like any Christians I knew. I didn't like the things they liked, I didn't talk the way they talked, and I surely didn't act the way they acted. I tried to spend time with other Christians, but it seemed as though we had nothing in common. We didn't enjoy the same activities, so I quit trying to develop relationships with them. Unfortunately, I didn't realize how much I needed them. Christians support, motivate and encourage one another to stay focused on God and away from sin. Without their help, I felt overwhelmed and unable to succeed.

I learned during those months that my relationship to God was directly related to my relationship with other believers. The less time I spent with other Christians, the less time I spent reading my bible and focusing on God. The less time I spent focusing God, the less interested I was in living in a way that honored Him. I made a lot of mistakes during that time, but God loved me anyways. He died for me while I was His enemy, and was willing to patiently and persistently show me grace as I was learning to be His child. I needed to be around other Christians who could help me focus on God's incredible love.

Read about Paul's special assignment in Ephesians 3:1-7 (NLT):

When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles. . . assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles. As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.

And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.

Answer the following questions:

1. What responsibility was given to Paul? Has God given a special responsibility to you?
2. Restate God’s plan in your own words.
3. What does this passage reveal about becoming a child of God? Are you a child of God?
4. Are you a child of God? If so, how does it feel to be one of His children?

God's Response to Mankind's Sin: Day 3

I had a roommate who use to watch a show called Band of Brothers.  It was 9 discs so it seemed like he was always watching the show for a few months.  I personally never got into the show, but I remember how excited he got when he talked about the bonds forged through war.  He wanted that type of friendship with someone, but I didn't understand.  It wasn't until later in life that I realize the inherent desire that people have for community.  We were created to be in close relationships with people, but many times we don't know how to get there.  How do we create strong relationships?

As I think about my past, I realize that I have had a lot of "brothers" in life.  My sports teams, for example, helped me develop strong bonds with some of the guys, some who I still keep in contact with.  But I've had all sorts.  I've had work groups, small groups, family groups, school groups, mission groups, etc.  They were all great ways for me to get into a relationship with people that I wouldn't have typically associated with, because each group member had a unified purpose.  But it wasn't the purpose didn't create a bond.  In fact, the purpose can get in the way of forming a bond if we aren't careful.

Sometimes I see myself ruining a relationship by focusing too much on the purpose and not enough on the person.  I focus on completing the purpose, but that forces me to push people away who detract from the purpose.  Purpose brings people together, but a mutual identity bonds people.  So the big question for me is, what is my identity?  

I can identify myself as a "Wheeler" or a "husband," or a "student," but my deepest identity is "child of God."  We are Jesus' siblings, co-heirs, children of God.  Whether you are a pastor, a missionary, a felon, or a cripple; you are a new creation; a child of God.

Read what God says about His house in Ephesians 2:19-22 (NLT):

So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.

Answer the following questions:

1. What metaphors does God use to describe Christians in this passage?

1. A cornerstone is the essential stone in which all other stones were built around. Why does this passage call Jesus the cornerstone? (Look up the definition of cornerstone).

2. How do you see yourself joined together with God and His people?

Conclusion:

I was on a new journey in life, and God was now my traveling companion. He wanted me to join His family so I could know Him and make Him known. It started out as an incredible journey, but unfortunately sin had a lot of strongholds in my life. I felt as though I was constantly failing God, and began to doubt whether God could love such a “failure”. I began to learn that although I failed, I was not a failure. I was loved by God, and next week we will take a deeper look at that love.

God's Response to Mankind's Sin: Day 2

God responds to sin, and in my situation, I had to respond as well.  I responded by making, gradual but drastic changes in my lifestyle.  These changes forced me to walk down a slow road of recovery that had a lot of ups and down. Two steps forward and one step back was quickly followed by two steps forward and three steps back.  It was frustrating, hard, and many times it felt like suffering.  In fact I think Romans 8:17 is speaking of the maturing process when it says: 

"Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."

During those times of pain and frustration, it's easy to doubt God's love and goodness.  It's easy to think that He doesn't care, but that's a lie.  The truth is: life on earth sucks at times.  It's hard, frustrating, and disappointing, but God is still good.  God didn't promise to make this life perfect, He promised to make the next one perfect.  That's good of Him, but there is something even better.

God also promised to use pain, suffering and disappointments to changed our destiny.  Ephesians 2:1-10 revealed that God saw the pain and suffering we experience and He stepped in.  He responded to the painful effects of sin by absorbing it.  On the cross, Jesus took our punishment and rewrote our eternity.  We suffer because of our sin; He suffers because He loves us.  He suffers because He wants to bring us something very good: reconciliation.

Read about God's reconciliation in Ephesians 2:11-18 (NLT):

Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

Answer the following questions:

1. Gentiles are non-Jewish people. How did Jesus accomplish reconciliation for the Gentiles?
2. Which relationships are reconciled through Jesus?
3. This passage shows that Jesus brought good news. Restate the good news in one sentence.
4. Are there any relationships in your life that need to be reconciled? Take time to pray for them.

Week 2 Challenge:

Prejudice is wrong, because God desires unity between all people. Ask God to show you a group of people that you are prejudice against, and look for an opportunity to show kindness to them.

God's Response to Mankind's Sin

My first three years of college were a blur of selfish choices that inflicted trauma on myself and other people, but I couldn't stop chasing after sin. I had lost control over my desires, and was craving wickedness in increasing amounts. I didn't realize it at the time, but the sin that began as a “fun escape” had started to infiltrate every area in my life.  I was addicted.

The more I followed my desires, the more I became blinded by those desires.  I was trapped and unable to save myself, but thankfully, God intervened before it was too late. 

One day while I was in the middle of an immoral behavior, I began to feel convicted and ashamed of my actions.  In the past, I had tried to ignore shame and guilt whenever I experienced them, but that time was different.  That time I wasn't able to ignore the feelings.  God had captured my attention, and wanted to give me another opportunity to turn my life around.  It was an opportunity I didn't deserve at all.  

"Opportunity" is a strange word to use for conviction, but I think it's an accurate one.  My addiction and shame created a bondage, but God offered to release me.  Interestingly, it didn't feel like an "opportunity" back then, instead, it felt like a quick slap to the face that left my body vibrating.  It felt like shock therapy, but it was the best thing that ever happened to me.   

Read Paul's introduction in Ephesians 2:1-10 (NLT):

Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Answer the following questions:

1. What does Paul reveal about the life of a non-believer?
2. What does this passage reveal about salvation? 
3. How did God save us, and why?
4. How has God been changing your life as you spend more time with Him?    

Our Response to God's Love: Day 3

I saw a picture online which had stirred up a lot of controversy not too long ago.  The picture showed a grocery receipt of food purchased with food stamps, and it stirred up controversy because the food consisted of lobster and porterhouse steak.  People were outraged that their taxes helped other people eat more luxurious than they did.  And how would you feel if you found the receipt?

Would you feel cheated and taken advantage of?  Would you feel as though justice was being perverted?  What emotions are stirred up as you think about those questions?

Interestingly, the story doesn't end there.  The guy who bought the lobster and steak turned around and sold the food at 50 cents to the dollar.  In essence, he used the food stamps as an ATM machine.  But why would he do that?  Why was he willing to forfeit half of the money in order to get cash...?  

You probably have a few ideas, and it probably makes you angry.  It doesn't seem right, does it?  It seems unfair and unjust, doesn't it?

That's because it is.  In fact, the spokesperson for the Department of Human Services said that the purchases go against the intent of the program.  

You were cheated, and how does that make you feel?  

I keep asking you to consider your feelings, because I want you to consider God's feelings. We are cheating God when we say "I'm going to sin now and ask for forgiveness later," and how do you think He feels?  Even more importantly, are you concerned with His feelings?

Those are hard questions to think about, because many times we are more concerned about ourselves than Him.  At least, I know I'm guilty of that.  God has feelings, and I am sorry for the way I have hurt Him.  That was sinful of me.

As we continue to read about God's incredible love for us, let's remember to use that love appropriately.

Read Paul's prayer for other Christians in Ephesians 1:15-23 (NLT):

Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.

Answer the following questions:

1. What does Paul teach us about prayer as he describes his prayer for other believers?

2. What do we learn about Jesus Christ and what do we learn about the Church? How are they related to one another?

3. What do you need that you believe only God can satisfy?

4. Who do you pray for? Does anyone pray for you?

Conclusion:

Focusing on God is important, but it's also important to have the right motives. Some people believe they can earn God's forgiveness by reading the bible and going to church, others believe God's love is a license to sin, while still others might believe that God is mean and will send them to hell if they don't go to church and read the bible. However, all of these motives are wrong. God's forgiveness is a gift that we can't earn, but it's a gift He wants to give us. Our motive for prioritizing God should be based on His love for us, and next week we will discover why God's love is so amazing.

p.s. If you want to read the food stamp story online, here is the link:

http://www.snopes.com/photos/signs/receipt.asp 

Our Response to God's Love: Day 2

When I was younger, my parents and Sunday school teachers did a great job.  I was constantly taught that Jesus loves me, and that He was willing to die in my place.  I might not have understood why He loved me, and what I was suppose to do with that love, but at least I knew.  In fact, the first song I ever learned was "Jesus Loves Me."  (Here's a fun fact: the second song I ever learned was "Achy Breaky Heart").  

I wouldn't change anything that I was taught during my preschool years, but I realized my teaching came with a price.  I now understand that many Sunday school kids will come to experience a strong temptation when they get older; a temptation to use God's love in a way that it was never meant to be used.

The selfish temptation goes something like this: "God loves me and always will.  God will forgive me because of His love.  I can be sinful and ask God to forgive me later."

That's not the way God intended for His love to be used.  No one likes to be taken advantage of.  God died for us so we could live for Him, but what does that mean?  

Read God's plan for mankind in Ephesians 1:9-14 (NLT):

God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

Answer the following questions:

1. Rewrite God's plan in your own words:

2. What is the most amazing or unbelievable aspect of God's plan in your opinion?

3. Who receives an inheritance, and how do they get it?

4. What does this passage teach you, personally, about God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit?

Weekly Challenge:

God desires for us to praise and glorify Him. We praise God by thanking Him for His goodness, and we glorify Him by telling other people about His incredible love for us. Spend time writing down some of reasons why you are thankful for God, and then pray for the courage to share those reasons with another pers

Our Response to God's Love

(Today is the first day of the 18 part devotional on Ephesians.  I will be updating this blog every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  Email me if you want this email sent to your email address.  joshua.wheeler03@gmail.com)


When I was 18 years old, I decided to quit waking up for church. I wasn't mad at God, nor was I hurt by the church; I just thought church was irrelevant. I was in college at the time, and learning so much from my
professors and friends that I thought Sunday morning lectures could wait until I was older. This is fairly common for people my age, in fact, a recent study by the Barna Group revealed that 60% of young people chose to leave the Church during college. I admit that I learned a lot from those years, but many lessons were painful and unexpected.  I now bear spiritual scars which remind me that some decisions can cause deep wounds.  At first I didn't understand why I made so many mistakes, especially considering my background. I grew up with parents who brought me to church every Sunday morning and dropped me off at youth group every Wednesday night. The problem wasn't my church attendance, it was my motivation. I only went to church because my parents. They wanted me to go, and I never took responsibility for developing my relationship with God.  My weak faith made it easy to forgot God once I got to college, but the experience also taught me a very important life lesson: I need to focus on my relationship to God.  As I look back, I am able to see that I could have avoided so many hurtful decisions if I only would have made God a priority. This is because many of my mistakes stemmed from insecurity and a desire to be loved and
accepted. I now understand that God has always loved and accepted me, but I couldn't see it until I started focusing on Him.

I have learned that humans can only focus on one thing at a time, so I try to focus on God as frequently as I
can. I do this by reading the bible in the morning, asking God to remind me about Him throughout the day, and going to church on Sunday. In essence, I am making a choice to prioritize God above anything else, and then asking Him to help me honor that choice.  As we spend this week reading through the first chapter of Ephesians, let's take notice that Paul spends a whole chapter focusing on God before focusing on us. It
seems as though Paul is demonstrating that God was the top priority in his life, his family and friends were second and ministry work was third.

Read Paul's introduction in Ephesians 1:1-8 (NLT):

This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.

I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious

grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

Answer the following questions:

1. What does this passage reveal about God's love for us?

2. What do we learn about our freedom?

3. What aspect of God's love is hardest for you to understand or appreciate?

Fellow Travelers...

I have often struggled to understand how the bible relates to my life, and I know I'm not the only one. I hear many people complain that the bible is irrelevant for the 21st century, but I read the bible assuming that God is going to use the words on the page in order to communicate with me. I believe that God wants to talk to us, but do we know how to listen?

During the past two months I wrote a bible devotional hoping that it would help my family and friends learn how to listen to God and grow in their understanding of Him.  I wanted to use my past experiences as an example of how I have learned to listen to God in the past.  I'm not perfect, and I believe that God communicates differently to each of His children, so I suggested that they use the devotional as a workbook instead of a textbook. But why am I telling you this inside of this blog post?

Well, during the next 6 week I would like to share my devotional study with you online.  I want to use this blog as a way for us to read through the book of Ephesians together and grow in our understanding of God.  I will format the blog differently than a normal blog post, and I will be making blog posts 3 times a week: Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  

Each "blogvotion" will begin with a brief insight that God has shared with me, followed by a short section of Ephesians, and conclude with a few questions about what you read.  Because this is online, you can use the comment's section in order to add your own questions, answer some of mine questions, or share an insight of how the section applies to your life.  I would love for us to challenge and encourage one another to see the Bible as a source of living communication between God and His children.

Finally, I want to provide two quick notes in conclusion: 

First of all, the questions are the most important part of the study because they are designed to help you focus on God and communicate with Him. Therefore, slowly read and answer the questions as thoroughly as possible, writing your responses in a separate notebook if needed.

Secondly, send me an email if you want this blog to come directly to your email inbox.  Joshua.Wheeler03@gmail.com

I pray that we all grow a lot closer to God in this time.