Daily Devotional from Pastor Mary 01-06-23

Intro:  As we enter into a new year, I am praying for the Spirit to help more people come to salvation and step into God’s family.   Wouldn’t it be amazing to experience God leading a revival by pouring his Spirit across the globe?  God longs for his human family to come back into fellowship with him; he loves us all so very much.  I believe a prayer for revival should cross our lips every day.

 It is the work of the gospel to bring all worshipers—Jews and non-Jews—together as One in God’s kingdom and family.  The Apostle Paul—a Jew—was imprisoned for proclaiming this Oneness to non-Jews [Gentiles].  God’s grace was on Paul to minister this truth and he knew that wherever he found himself and whatever situations came his way this was God’s purpose for him.  So whether free or imprisoned, he was a servant of Christ not a victim of his circumstances.  This is a truth each one of us who belong to Christ must accept. 

According to Paul, for the saved—those who believe in the work of Christ on the cross for the forgiveness of sin—there is to be no racial, social, or spiritual distinctions. In Christ, no one is beyond the work of restoration; all human beings require restoration and can be made whole in Christ.  Together we can all glorify God and display his power and wisdom.  But, we must be willing to step into God’s family in humility, repentance, obedience, and champion a heart for the world’s salvation.  That means things like pride, hatred, and greed for power must be left at the cross before crossing into Kingdom Living and the glorious presence of God.

Ephesians 3:1-12  NLT God’s Mysterious Plan Revealed

3 When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles . . . 2 assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles. 3 As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. 4 As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. 5 God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.

6 And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.  7 By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.

8 Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. 9 I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.

10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.

12 Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.

Prayer:  Father, thank you for calling all of humanity into your glorious presence.  May we let go of the petty attitudes and selfish actions that divide us, all bow to the Truth of your Word, and unite as One in Christ for your honor and glory.  Send a revival across the world we pray!  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

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