“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us” (Ephesians 1:7-8).

Through His blood, that is, at a price we cannot pay, Christ redeems us.  Jesus paid the price so that we would be redeemed.  For the forgiveness of our trespass, that is, for going where we should not be, He takes on Himself the penalty.  What is presented is simple, but how we react is often so complex.  Yet, it remains simple.  By His blood you have been redeemed and He holds out His hand so that you would take it and follow Him all of your days.

Lord, this world plays games and does not abide in the simple truth that You have redeemed us.  You and You alone are the Redeemer.  Lead me in the way of truth so that I would humbly walk with You always and be guided by Your goodness and mercy.  Let me not listen to this world’s lies but be transformed by You who has redeemed me at great price from the iniquity that this world preaches and lives.

Thank You, Jesus, for all You have done.  I really do not know, nor do I understand but a small portion of this.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of truth so that I may live into this life of faith You have given me.  Teach me to trust You above all things, learning to love as I have been loved and to share with others as You have shared with me.  You are the One Who redeems and You alone are the One who saves!  Amen.

“In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:5-6).

In the Gospel of John, we are told that the power to become children of God is given to those who see the light shining in the darkness.  Here, it is said that He who knows us destined that we would be conformed to the image of Christ.  Walk then as one who has been given the greatest of all gifts and learn to love as He loves.  Walk in the way of the Lord and live into the purpose for which You have been created.

Lord, there are many things I do not know.  You are always present and You, who knows all things, have called all who have faith to be conformed to Your image.  Lead me this day in the way of faith so that I would humbly walk according to Your instruction and in the Father’s will.  You have freely bestowed upon me the gifts of grace.  Help me learn to bestow these gifts upon others.

Lord Jesus, in You is all hope and an eternal future.  You have come so that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Help me to live this life which You offer.  By Your grace, You have given me the power to become like You.  Help me become what You know I will be and lead me so that I may make my life’s focus that which is good, eternal, and pleasing to the Father.  Amen.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him” (Ephesians 1:3-4).

There are some things you should not try to figure out.  You have been chosen by God.  He who knew you before the foundation of the world determined that you would be conformed to the image of Christ.  Do not spend your time pondering why, but spend your time and energy being conformed according to the purpose of the Father.  He Who knows all things, has already put before you all that is needed for your faith to flourish.

Lord, help me focus upon those things which are of benefit in my faith.  Guide me to spend my time and energy where You would have me spend them.  Guide me in all things so that I would not try so much to understand all things as to understand that You who are the Maker of all things.  Lead me along the right paths for Your sake and keep me close to You on the narrow path of salvation.

Lord Jesus, You have come and accomplished all that needs to be done in order that we who have faith might flourish in the truth You have revealed.  Lead me this day Lord so that I may focus upon those tasks You have given me to do and walk according to Your never-changing word.  Help me see through the confusion of this age and learn how to be obedient in and through all things.  Amen.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:1-2).

To all who are faithful, he says: only the Lord knows who the faithful are.  If you understand that, then treat those you believe to be faithful in this manner: be gracious to all others as the Lord has been gracious to you.  Live in the grace you have been given and, as far as you are concerned, live in peace with others.  We each have been called by the Lord and we have been given tasks by the Holy Spirit so that we may live this life of faith in fellowship.

Lord, these are simple words and I have heard them many times.  I often think of them as just a greeting.  Help me to learn to receive them as a blessing and take them into my heart.  Teach me how to be blessed and to bless others.  Guide me to a fuller understanding of living this life of faith which You have given me.  Teach me how to live all my days faithfully, in peace, and loving my neighbor.

Lord Jesus, You who were always faithful, through whom we have received grace and mercy, and by whom are all things held together, guide me in the way of faith this day so that I may be blessed and be a blessing to others.  Help me rest in Your peace, share Your peace, and be at peace with those around me.  By Your grace, help me today to be Your witness and share the truth of faith in my life with others.  Amen.

“From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen” (Galatians 6:17-18).

Will you believe the faithful report you have received from the saints?  Will you believe in the faith you have been given?  Let no one mess with the truth which has been delivered once and for all.  They will try; but see it for what it is.  Holy Scriptures are not cleverly devised fables that we have been given, but the truth of God.  Rest in the peace He gives and know that in and through the One who created all life comes the blessing of salvation.

Lord, You have revealed all that is needed.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of life so that I would hold fast to the truth You have revealed once for all.  Lead me to know and trust Your faithful saints who are trustworthy, and to reject the lies of the devil however and through whomever they may come.  Teach me to rest in the peace of salvation given and to live each day following You in all of Your ways.

Lord Jesus, You have come so that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Lead me today, Lord, so that I would look to You for all things.  Guide me by the Word You have already given and grant me strength to reject all of the lies that surround me.  With Your guidance, I can do all things, for You have given me the words of eternal life and the will to follow You.  Lead me into Your peace always.  Amen.

“For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.  And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:15-16).

The new creature is the one who walks with the Lord.  The new creation is what replaces the old Adam, who insists on laws and regulations instead of walking humbly with God.  Come then and do not walk in the way of the world; but walk in the way of the Lord who created all worlds.  Yes, there is order, but its purpose belongs to the One who calls you to follow Him always.

Lord, always be the One leading me in this new life You have given me by grace and through faith.  Help me to avoid the traps that are set up in this age of wickedness which would ensnare me in the law’s unyielding demands.  Guide me in the way of life You have established so that I would learn how to live as one freed from sin, always seeking to do what is pleasing to the Father.  Guide me, O Lord, for I know well the way of the old Adam, but I do not yet fully know the way You have established.

Lord Jesus, You gave us a new commandment which sums up all of the old commands and re-establishes what You initially created as the order of things.  Guide me, Lord and  Savior, in the way of everlasting life that lives by humbly abiding in You.  Teach me how to think, act, and have my being so that I may abide in the way of life everlasting.  Lord, help me overcome the ways of this world with Your grace and live always abiding in You and in the way You lead me.  Amen.

“For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.  But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:13-14).

Some things have never changed.  There are those who set rules up as the thing itself; whether or not they actually follow them is another matter.  The Lord God, who loves us, created us, and has given us the opportunity for salvation.  This is what our faith is all about.  Yes, our behavior matters, but that is what we do, not who we are.  Who we are in the Lord, is what all of this is all about.

Lord, sift my heart so that I would not mix these things up and chase after those who insist upon right practice.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life so that in relationship with You I would abide by what is right and fitting for the sake of the relationship You have established with me.  Do not let me think that my behavior, or being pleasing in Your sight, is the condition by which we have a relationship.  You have given me Your word first.

Jesus, You died for the forgiveness of our sins, taking our place on the cross, so that we would be freed from sin’s power.  Sin brings death, but You give life.  You have not freed me to do as I please, but You have freed me to do what is pleasing to the Father.  Lead me, Lord, in the way of everlasting life which You have established so that I would not fall into the age-old trap of trying to live the law as the thing itself.  Guide me in learning how to love You and my neighbor as You would have me love.  Amen.

“See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.  Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ” (Galatians 6:11-12).

In the example of Paul, one works as long as one is able.  The idea of going off into the sunset to do what you please is foreign to the idea of following Christ.  In Christ, we are all called to the tasks of working while there is time to do the work.  In Paul’s day they did not have glasses, so He would have had to write large to see what he was doing.  More important, he worked up to the end of his time in this age.

Lord, let me not go the way of the world and stop working when there are things I can do.  Guide me in the ways You would have me go and give me the fortitude to continue doing what You give me to do.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of everlasting life and keep me far from those things in this world which would hinder my walk in and with You.  May I work while there is within me the ability to work.

Lord Jesus, You came and did the work that was needed that we all might have the opportunity to abide with You forever.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of everlasting life that I would now and always walk in the eternal way and not give in to the pressures of this world.  Let me leave this life “Writing with large letters” that others may hear from me the truth of the Gospel.  Amen.

“So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Galatians 6:10).

Are you able to begin to grasp what the Lord is up to?  He is turning those who follow Him from being centered upon the self to looking beyond.  This is a beginning point.  Do see that the Lord takes what He has created and turns it away from sin (slaying it on the cross) and toward Himself as you become a willing lover of His will and way.  Come then and live into the opportunity which is yours in Christ.

Lord, I begin to see these things, but the world comes and hammers at them so that I become confused.  Help me Lord to see through the dark clouds of this world’s thinking that I may learn how to abide in You and You in me.  Lead me ever deeper into the reality given by grace and lived through faith.  Let me clearly see the opportunities that will come my way this day and utilize them according to the Father’s will.

Thank You Lord Jesus for making possible the hope which is mine through You.  Guide me, Lord, through the opportunities You give that I may learn how to always abide in You and the way You are teaching me.  Show me those places where I can reach out.  Show me the ways I can become a little more like what You are creating me to be.  Guide me, Lord, in the way and truth of life.  Amen.  

“For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.  Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary” (Galatians 6:8-9).

This principle is true and we see it in the lives of others who enter into a sinful lifestyle believing they are exempt from the recompense of their deeds.  No one is exempt.  It is a truth that this belief in our difference is common to us all.  Confess it and live knowing these things apply to You as well as everyone else.  Sow what is right and good that the goodness of the Lord would flourish in You.

Lord, teach me what is right and good.  Teach me where there are those places in my life when I am believing that these things do not apply to me.  Guide me that I may be good soil that is able to grow what needs to grow in me.  You alone are able to help me bear fruit.  Prepare me that I may become the kind of person that my faith hopes I will be.  Let me not lose the love of what is good.

Lord Jesus, You persevered to the end.  Help me learn again how to abide in You knowing that You are always abiding in me.  Lead me this day, O Lord, in those ways You know I need to go that I may humbly abide with You in readiness for all that You have in mind for me.  Let me not sow corruption but reap the good fruit of the Spirit.  Let me not look at what I produce, but at You for all things.  Amen.