The blessing of Citizenship…
This week’s devotions are based on Week 4 of the Series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are (CLICK HERE)
Citizenship.
For most of you reading this, you were probably born on American soil. With that birth certificate signed by a hospital on US soil, you were given the rights of American citizenship. You don’t have to pass a test, take a competency test or prove your loyalty to our country. By birth you were “in.” For a smaller portion of Americans, they went through a lengthy legal process that applied for citizenship and then included study of American history, taking a test and pledging their loyalty to our country.
It’s no wonder that the debate about illegal immigration rages on when the boarders of our country are to protect our citizens and what it means to be a US citizen. It’s a big deal. It’s an important matter.
For a US citizen, we are governed by our founding documents of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Our branches of government, legislative processes, and judicial protections are guided by what is written in the documents. As a US citizen, we are invited to be part of the process to choose our representatives in government, respect our country and pledge allegiance to our flag.
The purpose of this devotion to start the week isn’t to be commentary on current political events, but simply to get us thinking about what it means to be a citizen of a country.
Because for the Christian, we also are a citizen of another kingdom: the kingdom of God. Great blessings are given to citizens of God’s kingdom and it comes with many rights and privileges. Yet we were not just simply born into this citizenship. We didn’t earn this citizenship, but rather it too is a gift of God’s grace. This week we will delve into these words of the Apostle Paul which teach us about this status we enjoy as a Citizen of God’s Kingdom:
Ephesians 2:11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Apply: What do you think is the biggest blessing of being called a “fellow citizen with God’s people”?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the blessing of our country. We ask in this time of political upheaval that you would, as you have promised, guide all affairs for the blessing of your people and the proclamation of your Gospel. As we value our citizens as residents of this country, we ask you to enhance our love, appreciation, and activity for you by making us a citizen of your kingdom. AMEN.
What’s the point?
This week’s devotions are based on Week 3 of the Series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are (CLICK HERE)
Proclaiming grace is an amazing privilege. Every sermon I preach, I pray God’s grace is evident and obvious. If someone only listens to one message and it happens to be one I gave, I pray God’s Spirit can use it to bring the spiritually dead to life.
That being said, after many sermons, especially the first half of my ministry (I’m a slow learner), my wife would often ask at Sunday lunch, “So what? Jesus died for me. So what?”
Since then, in the back of my mind as I give a message, I keep the “so what” factor in mind.
Why? Not just because my wife encouraged it, but because the Scripture encourages it:
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
God saved us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus for a purpose. He didn’t just save us FROM the consequence of our sin, he saved us FOR a divine purpose.
The cross of Jesus is not just a fact to believe, but a reality to live.
Why?
Because one who is alive, does alive things. God made us alive, even when we were dead in sins, to live for his purposes. He is the one that orchestrated our salvation to carry out the works he has prepared in advance for us to do.
So what does that mean? (A good Lutheran question…)
Through and through we are God’s workmanship. We ought never underestimate both the work God has done in our hearts to bring the dead to life and change our focus from serving self to serving the Spirit of God. It’s a work only God can do. He also has worked in us to develop a personality and skills, interests and abilities in order to use those to glorify him and be a blessing to others. He also is setting up opportunities around you for you to put the life he has given you into practice.
What might that look like for you today?
Are you headed to work? Perhaps the good work God is preparing for you is taking time to care for a fellow employee with a listening ear or a helping hand.
Are you at home today? Maybe God will put a friend or relative on your mind that needs a phone call, email or text to encourage them or just let them know they are being thought of.
Are you paying bills today? Maybe God is setting up an opportunity to realize again all the blessings he has given and express gratitude to him for it, while seeking opportunities to better steward and give he wealth he has given.
Are you playing sports today? Maybe God is setting up an opportunity to express good sportsmanship in the heat of competition where it would be easy for a harmful reaction to come out.
Are you alive today? Good! Perhaps it’s just asking the question, “God what are the good works you have prepared for me to do today? With this attitude, you will find yourself doing whatever is on your list today with a heart of peace, joy and gratitude, because you know God has organized this day for you to express your heart of faith. He is giving you opportunities to put into practice the work he has began in you and will carry on to completion.
He has given you a reason to live for him today!
1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Philippians 1:3-6 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Apply: Note at the end of the day all the opportunities that God has given you to put your faith into action. Pray for opportunities each day to live out the life God has given to you to his glory and to be a blessing to the people around you.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for orchestrating my salvation, but also my life to be lived to your glory. Forgive me for the many times I have missed the good works you have prepared. Open my eyes to see all the opportunities you give me today to glorify you. AMEN.
No claim but grace!
This week’s devotions are based on Week 3 of the Series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are (CLICK HERE)
Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
This verse is one that you have probably memorized at some point in your Christian life. As Lutheran pastor, I have used this verse many times to iterate the truth that our salvation is 100% God’s doing and not my doing. To claim otherwise would negate grace and claim a boast that is not mine.
While the verse is familiar, perhaps it is worth a few minutes of careful reflection.
“It is by grace you have been saved.”
Grace as we saw yesterday is God initiating action because of his great love for you to ensure that you will be in heaven with you. Grace is a gift of God. Salvation is a gift of God. The fact that you will enjoy heaven one day is a gift of God.
A gift is not something that you earn, it is purely an expression of love by the giver.
Our society, especially at Christmas, makes a gift something you get because you’ve been more “nice” than “naughty.” These messages communicate that we have a part in earning a gift. One earns a wage. A gift is given without any merit or performance.
Yet, we know a gift is ours because the giver puts our name on it. You have perhaps received a gift in the past that your reaction was, “You shouldn’t have.” or “I don’t deserve this.” You are right, the giver shouldn’t have and you don’t deserve it, but that’s what a gift is. Something we shouldn’t receive and don’t deserve but is given to us.
How do we know this gift of God is ours?
Simply go back to Ephesians 1
11 In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
Even the faith that apprehends this gift of God is God’s doing. As Paul says in Romans 10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
So what do we have to boast of?
Nothing.
God’s love is a gift.
The fact we are alive is a gift.
The reality that we will be in heaven is a gift.
Faith that believes this is a gift.
Grace is a gift.
So there is only one conclusion that brings absolute certainty to our status with God: Grace.
You are spiritually alive because of God’s amazing grace, love and mercy for you!
Apply: What certainty comes to you when you know you are a recipient of God’s gift of grace?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your overwhelming generosity that was willing to give me grace in spite of my sinful heart and life. I marvel that you would love me and give to me this wonderful gift. AMEN.
But…
This week’s devotions are based on Week 3 of the Series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are (CLICK HERE)
BUT…
I know as a kid when you were trying to explain why you did something and then followed it with…”but…” parents were not always willing to listen to the “…but…”, however, this BUT that starts verse 4 of Ephesians 2 is probably one of the most significant “but’s” in the Scripture. “But” is a conjunction that sets up a contrast between what was just said with what will follow. Sometimes those contrasts are minor. In this case, the contrast couldn’t be more stark.
If you need to, reread yesterday’s devotion on Ephesians 2:1-3. Spiritually dead is what we WERE due to a loyalty to the world, Satan’s lies, and our sinful flesh. The consequence was falling under the wrath of a just God.
BUT…
Ephesians 2:4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
The simple yet profound contrast between what we WERE and what we ARE is the love and mercy of God. God is the one who brings the dead to life. He did it at creation. He did it in Christ. He does it in our hearts.
There was no condition in our lives that was a catalyst to bring spiritual life to our hearts. God didn’t look at us and evaluate our life and if it was good enough to bring us life. He simply looked into his own heart and his love led him to make us alive. There is no question that a dead person can’t do ANYTHING to bring life. Only God can bring life…and that’s what he did. God MADE US alive! Why? Because he has great love and is rich in mercy. Period.
It is by grace you have been saved. Nothing more…nothing less.
This is the greatest contrast to what we were. No effort, no choice, no ability on our own can bring our spiritual deadness to life. Only the power of God at work can do that.
The result?
He raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms. We often think of heaven as a future reality, which it is, but the reality is ours today. We have the status of one who is already residing in heaven. God’s love is not something that progresses into a reality of heaven, it is an immediate change in status: The dead has been made alive!
This is all a tremendous testimony to the grace of God. The fact that any of us have a status of ALIVE instead of dead is only a gift of grace. Each of us is, as Paul wrote, a show of God’s “incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”
Thank God for this “but” it is the contrast between his wrath and his grace!
Apply: As you reflect on the amazing status change from dead to alive, what greater realization is yours today?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your rich mercy and great love. Without it I would be doomed to death and never experience life with you. AMEN.
What you were…
This week’s devotions are based on Week 3 of the Series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are (CLICK HERE)
Ephesians 2:1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
Death, from a physical standpoint, is a final thing.
When a person is dead, there is…no heartbeat…no breathing…no warmth to their skin.
A dead person can’t do anything. He can’t restart his own heart. He can’t breathe on his own. He can’t move.
Paul applies this term to one who is spiritually dead. While physically alive, spiritually they show all the signs of being dead. It’s a bleak place to be. It’s a status that ends in one reality: Object of God’s wrath.
What is noticeable in the terms Paul uses, is that he uses the past tense, “you WERE dead in your transgressions and sins.” He will get to the current reality, but let’s pause to understand the seriousness of our condition so that we appreciate the amazing nature of God’s grace.
While our status is changed as believers, we must recognize the signs of spiritual death because the spiritual battle is real and the outcome is so important.
So what are the signs of spiritual death? Paul gives three that indicate the heart is loyal to someone or something other than the Lord and his Word of Truth:
- One who is spiritually dead follows the ways of the world.
We live in the world, but are not to be of the world. Yet the temptation is to let the pressures of the culture around us shape our heart and our beliefs. While learning is a blessing, our heart can follow the humanism of the classroom, the philosophical atheism, the materialism of wealth or the woke ideas of the media and others. When Christianity is dispelled as out of touch, narrow-minded, or too religious, it is easy to find a path of less resistance to formulate our beliefs. In fact the world around us allows us to be our own god and master of life. It promotes an identity that is found in career, status, or wealth. All these, perhaps, seem more tangible and real in our own experience and find it tempting to ignore the Lord and follow the world.
2. One who is spiritually dead is influenced by the spirit of unbelief
The “spirit of the air” is a description of Satan. He is the one that promotes deceptions that seem real and the distractions that seem more important than the ways of the Lord. The spirit in those that are disobedient are ones that deny the reality of Christ and the authority of his Word. This is the temptation to minimize Christianity to one faith among many that has no more value than any other world religion. The heart is turned to trust itself more than the Lord. This is the the spirt of the air formulating an empty belief system in our hearts.
3. One who is spiritually dead satisfies the cravings of the sinful nature.
We are good at pleasing ourselves. We naturally crave self-gratification and desire things that are best for me. Perhaps the list that Paul writes in Galatians 5 is summary enough:
Galatians 5:19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
One who makes loyalty to the world and sinful flesh has no other option but to face the wrath of God. Without Christ, we face the justice of God which has to punish sin.
If this is our heart and our life we have no hope…
But…
(Read tomorrow morning for a very important “but”!)
Apply: Today’s devotion is a time for self-reflection and a realization of how our heart can be distracted and deviate from the Lord. It points out how much we need an answer to avoid the wrath of God and turn our hearts to God.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the blunt description of our heart without you. May your Spirit lead us to repentance and turn back to you. AMEN.