On Wednesday evening during our LIFE Lessons Bible Study, we explored Matthew Chapter fifteen. Throughout all of the preceding lessons we have studied [Chapters 1-14], Matthew has reminded us Jesus came to fulfill the Father’s plan to rescue humanity from sin and death by defeating the enemy and rising in power to set up his divine rule again on earth. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to the resurrected Christ (Mat 29:19). No greater power exists; and that power lives in you! Therefore, as believers in Christ, we operate in his authority and power as we join him in the Father’s rescue mission to provide salvation and eternal life.
In our passage from the Apostle Paul, today, we catch a glimpse of his letter to the church at Ephesus. Paul loves his spiritual family and wants the very best and most abundant life for them, so he writes to explain to them how Jesus changes the earth’s playing field by making his children masterpieces of grace. The Spirit impregnates believers with eternal life, provides divine wisdom for us, renews our minds, reorients our motives toward righteousness, transforms our lives from the inside out, and prepares our souls to fulfill the Father’s rescue mission. Those who connect to Christ become carriers [arks/temples] of the presence of Almighty God, as well as recipients of the treasure of heaven [the wealth of his grace].
Living out each day with this mindset changes how those who have been made alive in Christ view and practice earthly living. Through the Living Word, revelation comes to help us abide/remain under Christ’s authority. First, because Jesus is the Truth, we recognize when our minds are being fed lies or our thoughts are being tempted by evil. Second, because Jesus has been made wisdom for us, we wisely discern the places where we should or should not go to avoid the traps of evil. Third, we desire to boldly profess life in Christ, so we are careful to guard our tongues from speaking evil. Lastly, we protect our spiritual eyes by seeking the eternal things of God with our whole hearts and resisting evil’s earthly and temporal gratification. This reminds me of a song I learned as a child:
O Be Careful Little Eyes
O be careful little eyes what you see
O be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
So, be careful little eyes what you see
O be careful little ears what you hear
O be careful little ears what you hear
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
So, be careful little ears what you hear
O be careful little tongue what you say
O be careful little tongue what you say
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
So, be careful little tongue what you say
O be careful little hands what you do
O be careful little hands what you do
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
So, be careful little hands what you do
O be careful little feet where you go
O be careful little feet where you go
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
So, be careful little feet where you go
O be careful little heart whom you trust
O be careful little heart whom you trust
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
So, be careful little heart whom you trust
O be careful little mind what you think
O be careful little mind what you think
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
So, be careful little mind what you think
So, be careful little mind what you think
Ephesians 2:1-10 NLT Made Alive with Christ
2 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 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. 3 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.
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 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!) 6 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. 7 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.
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 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.
Prayer: Father, thank you for setting forth your rescue mission in Christ your Son and making it available by faith through grace. Now, we can do the good things you have planned for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.