DAY 1 –
JANUARY 2
TITLE: “I
HEARD ABOUT YOUR FAITH”
WEEKLY
SCRIPTURE READING: Ephesians 1:15-17
DAILY SCRIPTURE
READING: Ephesians 1:15
KEY
VERSE: “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus
and your love for all the saints,” Ephesians 1:15
What have
people been hearing about your faith recently? Let me rephrase that question.
What do you think people are hearing about you these days? The Apostle Paul had been hearing about the
church’s faith in the Lord Jesus. The other day, as I was leaving a staff
meeting to go to my office, I passed by the Chapel, where the Tuesday afternoon
prayer group had gathered. While I was speaking with the group, Lynn Mansveld came in to pray. As I left, I was reminded of a
question her precious husband, Lee, would sometimes ask when talking with
people in the community. The question was simply, “Are you a person of faith?”
(*Used by permission from Lynn)
Paul had
heard of the faith of the Ephesians. They were people who had put their faith
in the Lord Jesus. John wrote in his Gospel, “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John
20:31. The Bible tells us we are saved
by faith, live by faith, justified by faith, walk by faith, stand by faith and
overcome by faith. This faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ. Martin Luther once wrote,
“Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that
a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.”
Paul shared
good reports about what he heard from other churches in his letters to each of
the churches. One of those churches was the church at Thessalonica. In his
letter to the Thessalonians, he wrote, “We
always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually
remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor
prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus
Christ.” I Thessalonians 1:2-3. The
Thessalonians lived a life that gave them a reputation that had come to the attention
of Paul. He wrote, “And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonian and
Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia –
your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything
about it, for they themselves report what kind of
reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the
living and true God.” I Thessalonians
1:7-9.
What have
people been hearing about your recently? The church of Ephesus had a faith Paul
heard about. It was a faith in the Lord Jesus that impacted their lives as well
as the lives of others. It was a faith that was expressed in their actions.
Author, William A. Ward, wrote, “Real faith results in active response, responsible
action, and willing obedience.” Do you
have a faith that others are hearing about?
DAY
2 – JANUARY 3
TITLE:
“LOVE FOR ALL THE SAINTS”
WEEKLY
SCRIPTURE READING: Ephesians 1:15-17
DAILY
SCRIPTURE READING: Ephesians 1:15
KEY
VERSE: “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus
and your love for all the saints,” Ephesians 1:15
Yesterday,
I began the devotional by asking the question, “What have people been hearing
about your recently?” Yesterday, we focused on the faith Paul had heard about.
Today, we will focus on the love for all the saints that was made known to him.
When
I was a teenager, we used to sing a chorus based on I John 4:7-8. The scripture
reads, “Dear friends, let us love one
another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and
knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” I
John 4:7-8. The book of I John has a lot to say about love. Not loving the
world, God’s great love for us, and loving one another are three common themes
of love in this book. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul spoke of hearing of
the love they had for all the saints. The love they had was not discriminatory.
There
was a time when Jesus was asked by one of the teachers of the law which of all
the commandments is the most important? The scripture records, “‘The most important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is
this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your
God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all
your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your
neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.’” Mark
12:29-31. Jesus states that loving one another is a way others will know that
we are truly His disciples. He said, “A
new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love
one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love
one another.” John 13:33-35.
Erwin
McDonald said, “Most of us want very much to be loved. Perhaps we are not
concerned enough about loving.” The
church needs to be loved and he has called upon you and me to do it. Author,
Scott Gross tells about a time he went out on a freezing, cold day in Denver.
Scott wanted to stay home, but he braved it out to the Convention Center, where
a group of people were planning to meet. His batteries were bad so he ran
across to a Seven-Eleven store. Scott recalls, “There
was an elderly man in the store who made his way up to the front. It took
forever for him to get out change for coffee and a muffin. I thought to myself,
“Why would he come out in this weather for coffee and a muffin?” The lady
cashier called him by name and was very patient with him. Taking both his hands
in hers, she held them against her face. Responding that they were still cold,
she rubbed them in her hands for awhile and then straightened up his coat and
shawl around his neck. She told him to be careful out there because she was
looking forward to seeing him. He then left. After talking to the clerk, it was
clear to me. That man did not come for a muffin and coffee. He came to be
loved. He came to have his heart warmed.”
Do you and I have a love for all the saints
that others are hearing about? Let the words of Jesus ring in your hearts
today. He said, “Dear friends, let us
love one another.”
DAY
3 – JANUARY 4
TITLE:
“THE CHURCH NEEDS YOUR PRAYERS”
WEEKLY
SCRIPTURE READING: Ephesians 1:15-17
DAILY
SCRIPTURE READING: Ephesians 1:16
KEY
VERSE: “I have not stopped thinking of you, remembering you in my prayers.” Ephesians 1:16
I
have had the wonderful privilege of being influenced and impacted by many godly
people in my life. Walter and Mabel Mall were children’s ministry workers and
Sunday school workers in the church I attended when I was a child. They were
strong on Bible memorization and taught me the importance of hiding the word of
God in my heart. I am thankful to God for their commitment to children, the
church, and to me, personally. They helped shape my life for God.
When
I was in the sixth grade, I had a Sunday school teacher by the name of Betty
Visible. She loved us deeply with the love of Jesus. She gave a car model every
week to anyone in the class who would memorize the scriptures for the week. I
earned a lot of car models in those days. The thing I remember most, however,
is her love for Jesus and her love for me. I am thankful to God for the church
I was part of and for all the Betty Visibles in my
life.
When
I was a teenager, I had a youth pastor by the name of Jim Lester. He was a
source of encouragement, helping me to grow in the things of God. I am sure I
caused him some grief at times, but I am so thankful he did not give up on me.
I am thankful for him and the team of people who worked with the youth in the
church I was part of.
I
am thankful for the church. I am thankful for the many people through the years
who have been used of God to strengthen me and encourage me. I am thankful for
the church that has prayed for me and loved me. I am thankful for the people of
the church who have shaped me and impacted my life in many ways. I am thankful
for the church that loves God and loves others. I am thankful for the ministry
and work of the church.
The
Apostle Paul was thankful for the church. He did not take the church for
granted. He was thankful for the church, the people, and the ministry of the
church. His thankfulness for the church was genuine and consistent. He said he
had not stopped giving thanks for the church. His thanksgiving flowed over into
intercession for the Ephesians. He remembered them in his prayer.
Would
you join me in taking time to give God thanks for the church? Give God thanks
faithfully for the people that are living for Jesus and impacting the world.
Give God thanks faithfully for the church. Let your thanks flow over into the
intercession for the church. The church needs your prayers. In these days of
denial of authority of the scripture, the church needs your prayers. In these
days of a changing culture, the church needs your prayers. In these days of a
culture that challenges a biblical worldview, the church needs your prayers.
Will you join me in giving thanks and praying for the church?
DAY 4 –
JANUARY 5
TITLE:
“KNOWING GOD BETTER”
WEEKLY
SCRIPTURE
DAILY
SCRIPTURE
KEY
VERSE: “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious
Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know
him better.” Ephesians 1:17
The power of
our prayer life always lies in the one to whom we are praying. Essentially, it
is not how long or how loud we pray, but the God to whom we pray that
transforms our lives through prayer. Paul is praying to the glorious Father,
the God of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is praying to the one who can give the
Spirit of wisdom and revelation.
Paul’s prayer
is that the church would know God better. He was praying for their knowledge of
God to go past the surface. Paul’s heart for the people was for them to grow
deeper in their relationship with God and to know Him better. Charles Jones
wrote a song in the 20th century that speaks about going deeper in
the Lord.
Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus,
Daily let me go
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom, More of grace
to know
O deep…er
yet I pray, And higher every day
And wiser blessed Lord, In Thy precious Holy word
Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still
Till my life is wholly spent in Jesus,
And His perfect will
O deep...er
yet I pray, And higher every day
And wiser blessed Lord, In Thy precious Holy word
Deeper, deeper though it cost hard
trials, Deeper let me go
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus, Let me fruitful grow
O deep...er
yet I pray, And higher every day
And wiser blessed Lord, In Thy precious Holy word
Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conq'ror, and His own image, Perfected at
last.
O deep...er
yet I pray, And higher every day
And wiser blessed Lord, In Thy precious Holy word (Charles Jones)
DAY 5 –
JANUARY 6
TITLE:
“KNOWING YOU”
WEEKLY
SCRIPTURE
DAILY
SCRIPTURE
KEY
VERSE: “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious
Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know
him better.” Ephesians 1:17
Paul’s prayer
is not so we can have more head knowledge of God. The word translated, “know”
denotes a larger and more thorough knowledge. Paul is talking about knowledge
of God that is full, real, and accurate. It is not just head knowledge, but a personal,
intimate knowledge of the Lord. To know more about God is an act of the mind,
but to know God in intimacy is an act of the heart.
Knowing
Christ intimately was more important to Paul than anything else in his life. “But whatever was to my profit I now
consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a
loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for
whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish,
that I may gain Christ.” Philippians 3:7-8. Paul expressed his heart
when he exclaimed, “I want to know Christ
and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his
sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the
resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:10-11. One songwriter expressed
Paul’s heart with these words.
All I once held dear, built my life
upon
All this world reveres, and wars to
own
All I once thought gain, I have
counted loss
Spent and worthless now, compared to
this
Chorus:
Knowing you, Jesus, knowing you,
There is no greater thing,
You're my all, You're
the best,
You're my joy, my righteousness,
And I love you Lord
Now my heart's desire is to know you
more,
To be found in you, and known as yours,
To possess by faith what I could not
earn,
All surpassing gift of righteousness
Oh, to know the power of your risen
life,
And to know you in your suffering,
To become like you in your death, my
Lord,
So with You to live and never die (Graham Kendrick)