“Of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power” (Ephesians 3:7).

A minister is not the expert, only one who gives away what has been given to him.  In other words, the minister is one who ministers to those who receive.  In that sense, we have all been called to be minister to others in Jesus name.  We are to love our neighbor as Jesus loves them.  We are to care for others as we have been cared for.  Come then in the hope of Jesus and share as it has been shared with you.

Lord, teach me these things for which You have called me and for which You died, in order to give me the grace I need to be able to do them.  Remove the obstacles that get in the way and lift me up to do the ministry You have prepared for me.  Help me to live this out in and through You.  Help me to see things simply and live them out graciously.  Through all things, help me to become whom You are making me to be.

Lord Jesus, You know all of the things that were accomplished for our sake through the cross.  Help me now accomplish what You have planned for me through my life.  Lead me so that I may be whom You are making me to be.  Guide me so that I may do what You have planned for me to do.  Through all things, show me in Your goodness how to live out the Gospel that You have given, once, for all.  Amen.

“Which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (Ephesians 3:5-6)

Humans like to think they’re special.  We are all the same.  Each of us has sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.  For each one of us, Christ went to the cross so that we might have a new life and have it abundantly.  Christ died once for all.  The promise of Jesus is to reach all people.  For all people is the offer made.  That includes you and those who will of hear His promise through you.

Lord, You knew the plans You made before the foundation of the world.  You know the issues that are with each one of us and the difficulty we have in trusting You above all other things.  Lead me, Lord, to see that the “for all” means exactly that.  Help me to be led by You so that I may share with others what You have given me and make this available to all with whom I share the Good News of Christ.

Lord Jesus, You have come so that as many as would turn to You would have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of salvation You have made possible so that I would know the truth and share the truth You have revealed.  Guide me Lord now and forever so that I may always abide in You and freely share with everyone whom I meet the great news of Your salvation.  Amen.

“That by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.  By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:3-4)

What we have been given is not some cleverly devised story, but the truth that has been given through revelation.  By the revelation of God, His mysteries are revealed.  Through the Word, His mysteries are revealed.  Come then into the mystery of God which has been revealed to You, and dwell with Him now and forever.  You have been redeemed by His provision and called for His purpose.

Lord, lead me where I need to go.  Lead through my rebellion and protestations so that I may be guided in Your goodness to see that in You is all hope and the glory of eternity.  Guide me, Lord, so that I may now and always look to You, the hope of all people, in the mystery of the revelation You have made before all people, in order see the salvation You have made possible for all.

Lord Jesus, through You alone is all hope and glory.  You have come so that all who believe might have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me, Lord, so that I may now and always walk humbly with You, my Lord and Master.  Teach me this day what You would have me know.  Walk me ever deeper in the mystery of the faith.  Lead me this day, my Savior, and share through me the truth of the gift of grace You have given for all, that others might believe and be saved.  Amen.

“For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles, if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you” (Ephesians 3:1-2)

We have been created for relationship and we live this out within community.  The difficulty of the sin of the old Adam is that we are often looking at things through the jaded eyes of just the self.  Paul was sent for the sake of the others.  You too have those whom the Lord desires that you would serve.  Will you move beyond yourself and live into the life the Lord gives you in His grace and mercy?

Lord, You have given me all I need to live in the salvation You have made possible through grace.  Guide me now to live in the purpose for which I have been created.  Lead me to see that in You alone is all hope and the eternal future You promise.  Let me begin now, living in and with You so that I may learn how to live in community and truly love my neighbor the way You love them.

Lord Jesus, there are so many things You have given us through the grace which is ours.  Help me this day to live faithfully into the truth of the salvation You have purchased for me.  Guide me to reflect on You and Your love for those around me.  Help me see that in You is all hope and glory.  Help me to share with those around me the witness of You in my life.  Guide me, Lord, in the truth of Your love.  Amen.

“In whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:21-22).

Those who believe are being knitted together as the body of Christ.  In the mystery of the church, all the saints are a part of the body.  Each has their own part and purpose, and the Lord of all has chosen those who will be connected by His grace with Him forever.  Come and live into the invitation You have been given so that by grace and in faith You may know the riches of His provision.

Lord, teach me these things so that I may have a confidence in faith that You alone give, that through the faith You give, I am in Your salvation.  Guide me by Your grace to love my neighbor and You above all things.  Guide me to learn each day what You would have me know.  Teach me to rejoice in the privilege of abiding in You.  Now and forever, keep my eyes focused upon You.

Lord Jesus, in You is the hope for all of the ages.  You have come so that we may have life and have it abundantly.  You have come to show the way and to lead the way of true life.  Let me be a part of Your congregation and a part of the building up of Your church.  Guide me in the goodness of the Father’s mercy to rejoice in each day that You give, knowing that all hope and an eternal future belong to those who believe in You.  Amen.

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone” (Ephesians 2:19-20″

It may not seem like much of a difference, but moving from being of this world to joining with Christ is as far apart as one can go in this age.  No longer are you alienated from God, for you have been reconciled by grace.  Come then and in that grace, live into the life for which You have been called.  Know that in the Lord is all hope and an eternal future for which you are being prepared.

Lord, bring my attention to the important things.  Turn my eye of my heart from the ways of this world and focus them upon You.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that in You is all hope.  Let me not think that I am alienated from You, but know that by Your grace, reconciliation has already been accomplished.  Guide me Lord in the grace You give in order that I may live into the new life You have promised and for which I am being prepared.

Lord Jesus, You have already done all that is needed and You have united me with You.  Let me not fall back into the way of this world, but boldly move forward in the hope and life that You have given me.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth and let me always humbly walk abiding in You as You abide in me.  You are the foundation of all life and of the eternal life which is mine by grace.  May I always rejoice in this gift.  Amen.

“And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father” (Ephesians 2:17-18).

There is only One who is the Mediator and that is Christ.  He has come so that all who believe would come through Him and be reconciled to the Father.  In Him is the way, truth, and life.  Whether we are far or near, the Lord has come for as many as will follow Him.  The question for each of us to wrestle with is whether or not we are among the ones who will follow Him.  Will you?  Will you not be far off, but near, and be reconciled with the Lord in His salvation?

It is so simple to say this, but the reality of living this is the struggle of faith.  I want it to be true, but like Thomas, I have my moments of doubt.  I want to follow, but like Peter, I want to be in charge.  I have seen many things, but like Phillip, I want to see one more thing before I give up and follow.  Lord, help my unbelief so that I would no longer linger, but come to You and walk humbly with You always.

Lord Jesus, all that You have done would take many books to speak about, as John said.  Help me live the life You are giving me now by grace, through faith.  Guide me according to Your goodness to see that in You there is true hope.  You know me, Lord, and You know what I need.  Grant that I would submit to You as my Lord and Savior and live in the access You have given me by grace through faith to this new life.  Amen.

“By abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity” (Ephesians 2:15-16).

The new man is the one who, through the fire of death because of sin, is being resurrected like Christ and prepared for eternal life with Him.  The new man is possible only through the shed blood of Jesus.  The new Adam is the gift of grace for all who will believe and receive it.  Therefore, put to death the enmity that once existed between you and the Lord so that the God of all may reign in your heart, soul, and mind and be the true Sovereign of your life.

Lord, You have freed me from the recompense of sin.  I have been brought to the place where a new life is possible.  Let me not waver nor turn back; but walk boldly in this new life which You have made possible and given me through grace.  Guide me in the unchanging truth You have established from the beginning so that I may humbly walk with You my Lord and Savior.

Lord Jesus, You died on the tree to open up the way to everlasting life.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of life so that I would learn from You how to live the life You have always intended for those who believe.  You know all that is needed and You know what I need.  Let me not hinder the gifts You give, but receive them fully in Your grace in order to become more like You today and every day henceforth that You give me in this age.  Amen.

“But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall” (Ephesians 2:13-17)

There is a dividing wall.  The law creates the absolute of what is and what is not acceptable.  We have all have fallen on one side of the wall.  Our hope comes by the blood of the One who died for the reconciliation of us all. The offer has been made possible and we have been reconciled through Him; this is the hope of our salvation.  We who were far off have been brought close.

Lord, You are the One who has made this possible, for You are the One who has reconciled those of us who have been far off, bringing them closer to Yourself through Your shed blood on the cross.  Guide me according to Your purpose, and by Your power, to walk the way You would have me walk knowing that only in You is there hope and glory.  Lead me away from those places where I was once far off in order to come closer to You.

Lord Jesus, You have come, and on the cross You accomplished for all what was needed for our salvation.  There are many who have not, nor will not, be reconciled through You.  Let that never be true of me.  Keep me close to You Lord so that I may learn from You and walk in the salvation You have purchased through the cross.  By Your blood I am healed and in You I have new life.  Lead me today in the new life You have given me.  Amen.

“Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands – remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:11-12).

Un-mixing what is physical from what is spiritual is important.  Yes, circumcision is a sign of the covenant, but it is not the covenant.  The covenant tells us that God is God and He will care for His people.  As many as believe, He will care for them by giving grace.  Christ has made this possible.  We did not create the ability to circumcise the heart, Jesus has done this by grace and we live this truth in faith.

Lord, I am both a physical and spiritual being.  You have made me what I am.  I do not understand all that this means, but You do.  Lead me through what I do not know by Your grace so that when that day comes that I stand before You I will know You even as I have always been known by You.  Lead me ever deeper into this faith You have given me so that I may grow in the likeness of Christ my Savior.

Lord Jesus, the One who has come to prepare the way, lead me today.  Through You, death has been stripped of its sting.  By Your grace, the heart of every believer has been circumcised.  The covenant is between me and Thee.  Let the truth of the relationship You have made possible ring in my circumcised heart now and forever.  Teach me to love as You love and live life as You have created me to live it.  Amen.