Day 180 "The Inspiriation of Love" (Ephesians: Chapter Three)

The Apostle Paul, through the grace he had received from God, was entrusted to preach the

gospel to the gentiles. To the Christians at Ephesus, Paul was letting them know that through Christ, the Gentiles have now been accorded the same rights and inheritance that had been granted to the Jewish people. In Christ, the Jewish people and the Gentiles now form one family. Paul closes out this chapter by praying that the people of Ephesus would come to understand and know the love that God has for them. Such a deeper understanding of God's love changes lives.

Ephesians: Chapter Three

:2 "Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation."

Paul's knowledge of God wasn't passed on to him by men. Paul received direct

revelation through Christ and through the Spirit God placed in him.

:6 "This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus."

The promise that was made to Abraham has now been extended to the Gentiles

through Christ. This was God's plan all along-that he would redeem the world

through his Son. (John 3:16-17) In Christ, we, as believers, have all become part of the same family of God. Christ is the great "equalizer."

:11-12 "according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence."

Where once there may have been fear of God, Christ opens our understanding to see God's love and grace in a different light. Understanding God's love for us

allows us the knowledge that through faith, we can approach God in freedom and confidence. We are, after all, God's children through Christ. And as children, we are also heirs.

:16 "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power

through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts

through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

As our lord, Jesus is the approved overseer of our lives. Who better to guide us than the one who procured our justification and made us holy before God? It is difficult for us to get beyond ourselves to live our lives for others. But as Paul communicates further, his heart's desire would be for us to come to a real and deep understanding of God's love for us. When our eyes and hearts are open to the revealing of such love, our lives change forever.

In Christ, we have all been made members of God's family. We are all one. Each one of us through Christ is given the privilege and right as a child of God to approach God, not out of fear, but with freedom and confidence. The love that God has for us is unending. When it is that we finally submit the control that we seek over our own lives and turn it over to God,

we are ready for God to complete within each of us what he designed us for. And that is when we begin to see life from God's perspective!

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There is tremendous power and peace knowing that God is for us, not against us.

Jesus has broken every chain that holds us down. In Jesus, the depth of God's love for us is fathomless. God's love cannot be out-sinned.

"The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more." Romans 5:20

Listen to Jesus Culture's song, "Break Every Chain" written by Will Reagan. Let the Spirit within you rise and give you hope.

Live today as if you know God is for you and that Jesus has died to set you free.

In his love, see you tomorrow...

"Carpe Momentum in Love" (Seize the moment in love)