[Together as a She Reads Truth community, we are reading through Ephesians. Sign up for the reading plan here!]
Take time to read through the scripture you’ve read over these past five days. Read through your notes, focus on a specific section: take time to reflect on what you have learned. We’d love to hear what God has been teaching you!
Ephesians 2:4-5 really speaks to me. We were dead in our transgressions and it is by grace we have been saved through faith. God really loves us and wants us to be with him. That’s what he wanted when we were created in the garden of Eden and unfortunately from that point on we were born with sin in our hearts. Too much sin to be with God but not enough for him to stop loving us. Not enough sin that God couldn’t send Christ to die for us. I have to thank God for not giving up on me, and I have to thank Jesus for believing that I was worth His death on that cross. Thank you Lord for saving my soul. #Amen
Thank God for his mercies that he gives to us daily. We often fall short, because we are not perfect. Daily we have to ask, God to forgive us of our sins. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace, which He made abound towards us in all wisdom and prudence he does this by telling us His will according to His good pleasure which he made Himself. When in a time of despair, due to the present times, He will gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in Heaven and which are on earth in Him. With that being said, he will work all things according to His will, for those that believe and love The Lord, in Him we have a reassured hope that will increase our faith to be conquerors over the enemy that daily tries to attack us through, our happiness, finance and our health.
Heavenly Father, I pray that you will give to us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, that the eyes of our understanding be enlightened and that we may know what the hope of your calling is. Show us your exceeding greatness for we believe that according to the working of your mighty power which works in Christ, when you raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him at your right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name. You put all things under your feet and gave Jesus to be over all things to the church. You have also given us the authority to use the name of Jesus that is above every name. According to Matthew 4:24 they brought unto Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and HE HEALED THEM. Father we come boldly and confidently to you, making our request made known. Lord, we are thankful that you are the same, yesterday, today, and forevermore. By your stripes we are healed in the mighty name of Jesus and you are no respecter of persons, if you did it before you can do it again. We believe, and receive all the greatness you have for us. We thank you and give you all the glory, honor and praise. In Jesus precious name Amen.
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved by faith, not as a result of works. It is the gift of God. Not as a result of works, that no man should boast.” What I struggle with is accepting the grace. I continue to try to earn my way into heaven. It is so hard to throw off the old self, the people-pleaser self. Every day I must trust in Jesus!
This chapters focus on our position in Chirst. We just need to rest on his perfect labor. Let him live his life trhough you. Experiment the power of his ressurrection.
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. (Ephesians 2:20 NIV)
I love this text. It says Christ should be our chief cornerstone. A cornerstone must be perfectly aligned and centered in order for the rest of the work to come out correct. Jesus has to be that same way. If He is not perfectly centered and aligned in our lives then everything else will come out misaligned. Then we have to continue the work over and over again until he is the cornerstone so everything else will come out aligned, in order, and pleasing.
This rich inheritance we have received is based soley upon the MERCY and GRACEof God. It is because His LOVE for us is so great, that we were saved from self-destruction.
Ephesians has long been one of my favorite books of the Bible. I will at times pray the beautiful prayer in Chapter 3 over my children or friends; it is a powerful thing to pray God’s Word, and this prayer in the middle of chapter 3 seems to be perfect for renewing our faith during tough times. I have learned that God Blesses us with faith as a gift. I used to try to muster up enough faith on my own, and then was taught that I can ASK Him for more faith – and He is pleased to deliver!! Through chapters 1 and 2 of Ephesians, this verse in chapter 2 really jumped out at me: “10 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.” (NLT) We are His MASTERPIECE – wow… Of all the artists I have ever heard or read of, the ones that produce a masterpiece spend an amazing amount of time and effort on that ONE work. Kind of takes my mind spinning to realize how MUCH our Lord had invested in us!! And HE never EVER creates garbage – someone “less” than His very best. Makes all those doubts and insecurities about myself much less powerful in my mind. I struggle with a VERY painful disability, have for 24 years now (I am 48). I cried out “why, Lord??” And “I can’t DO this anymore!!” More times than I can count. Then about 6 months ago, I found the key to enduring with peace: Jesus showed me that I can give all my willingness to suffer this FOR HIM, back to Him as my love offering. He has been faithful to bring me peace and joy in the midst of times when just walking is torturous…. And He uses me to encourage and comfort others (a bonus!!!). Now I read that I am a MASTERPIECE, not an error of our sinful times, not an example of faithlessness. He KNEW this would be my road, intended it, and through it all has drawn me so close to Himself. It’s been a beautiful vehicle to grow my faith and trust in Him – and I always have the inner joy of knowing that as I struggle and suffer, that He is right beside me, joyfully accepting this as my unique offering to Him. Thanks for allowing me a place to pour out my thoughts, SheReads, and blessing me with the thoughts and faith ideas of other women. You are all beautiful and I love you!! In Christ, Babs
Over the past 5 days, God has been reminding me of the way I used to be before I knew Him and the wonderful luxury I now have in Christ. Sometimes we as Christians forget who we used to be, and so we tend to look down on others who are still in that position. This should not be the case. Yes, Christ has saved us, but He also wants us to share Him with the world. We cannot do this by becoming judgmental, & we must be careful of this.
Your past is what makes you because it is a daily reminder of the necessity to be humble before God and toward others. Judging other people never happens because we see faults in another person. It happens when we forget that we have faults of our own.