Liz’s Morning Devotional based upon Upper Room
July 19, 2021
Read Ephesians 4:14-21
14 This is why I kneel before the Father. 15 Every ethnic group in heaven or on earth is recognized by him. 16 I ask that he will strengthen you in your inner selves from the riches of his glory through the Spirit. 17 I ask that Christ will live in your hearts through faith. As a result of having strong roots in love, 18 I ask that you’ll have the power to grasp love’s width and length, height and depth, together with all believers. 19 I ask that you’ll know the love of Christ that is beyond knowledge so that you will be filled entirely with the fullness of God. 20 Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by his power at work within us; 21 glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus for all generations, forever and always. Amen.
Good Morning! Glory to God in the Highest!
As I sit and reflect, I thank God for another wonderful day of life, a day unlike any other full of possibilities. When I read Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, I am intrigued as to its relevance to us today. Ephesus was an important trade city and became the center of Paul’s ministry for a time. This letter is a reminder, a dissertation, of all the tenets of the teachings of Jesus to help the Christians there refocus their faith. The main theme of the letter is to get along because we are all children of God. Paul is preaching unity.
Compare the need for unity to our world today! In yesterday’s sermon, we talked about Jesus knocking down the walls of division through His death and resurrection. We considered the idea that we are still putting up walls in the hopes of being protected, but instead, we are prisoners within the walls we construct. Until we remove the walls, we will never fully receive the peace that Jesus provides for us, the peace that he died a painful death to give us. Reading the Book of Ephesians should be a wake-up call to us today. The Virginia Annual Conference theme for 2021 is United as One! Today’s verses are a prayer. Imagine for a moment a world in which all can have the power to grasp love’s width and length, height and depth, together with all believers. vs. 18.
There is so much left to be done by us, the children of God. The task is immense, yet through faith in our Lord and Savior, we can accomplish all things. Jesus united the world as one body, we must tear down the walls of division and reunite as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Loving God, Thank You for loving us. By sending your Son to teach us, we have the tools to unite the world. Help us trust in your plan and allow the Holy Spirit to ignite the fire within each of us to willingly, lovingly work for unity. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: How can we remove the walls around us?
Imagine a world without walls! Pastor Liz
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