“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.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

You have been created.  There is a Creator and You are the product of His hands.  Come into the presence of Your maker and live as one who trusts in the Creator of all things.  He knows why He is doing what He is doing.  He knows where all of this will lead.  With great purpose He has laid out the foundation of creation so that you might have the opportunity to always abide with Him.

Lord, the mystery of this universe is deep.  I see many things and there are many more things that I do not see.  Help me, I pray, to step out in faith and live trusting You who has created all things.  Guide me away from just wanting to know in order to learn to trust You with the things I cannot know.  Guide me by faith to live into the life You are creating in me through the grace You have given me.

Lord Jesus, God in the flesh, You have come so that all who believe may have life and have it abundantly.  Lead me this day in the truth of the grace You give so that I may abide in You and learn from You as You teach me.  Help me through the obstacles that will get in the way so that I may even learn from them how to live this new life You have given me.  Teach me to abide in You now and forever.  Amen.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Re-read these words.  Let the reality of what is being said set in.  It is the gift of God.  No one may boast.  It is not dependent upon you.  It is by grace and the reality of this comes through faith.  Live then in the freedom you have been granted, that by the grace Christ gives you, you may live the new life in the faith you have been given.  Trust in the Lord always and know His goodness.

Come into the presence of the Lord and know that He Who formed you and redeemed you has made possible your salvation.  Yes, walk with Him, but never forget that it is He who has done this.  You and I have no merit by which we can claim this.  There is the grace we all need and receive through Him.  Trust in the One who has made all things and has declared these things to You.

Lord Jesus, You have come so that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me in the way of this new life You have given me so that I may now and always walk humbly with You and live into this life which comes through You.  Let me not boast in anything I have done, but only in You, who has made all of this possible.  Guide me now and forever so that I would learn to trust You above all else.  Amen.   

“And raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6-7).

The creation is not yet finished.  We are thinking and living beings who have been given an opportunity to dwell with God.  We were born separated from Him, but now have the gift of grace which reconciles us with Him in order to live in His presence eternally.  This is the hope of glory that Paul speaks of.  These are the riches which are ours when we follow Jesus.

Lord, take my eyes off of this world so that I may see things as they really are.  You are the One who created all things and in You alone is the hope of all glory.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of everlasting life so that I would not settle for created things, but dwell with You, the creator of all things.  Guide me, Lord, now and forever in the humble way of walking where You lead.

Lord Jesus, with great purpose You have come to lead the way for all who will follow You.  The journey is not the destination.  Help me to never think this way.  Instead, lead me today and every day to walk humbly with You, my Lord and Savior wherever You lead.  Guide me in this walk You have placed before me so that I would live into the riches of Your kindness and mercy and become what You have always intended.  Amen.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Ephesians 2:4-5)

Do you see the exchange that happens when you walk in faith?  The old joins with Christ on the cross, dying to sin and death.  The new is the life the Lord breathes into those who follow Him.  Come then and live into the new life which is yours in Christ.  Put to death that which kills you and grow in the life He gives which is everlasting.  You have been saved by His grace.

Lord, teach me the fullness of what all of this means.  Sometimes I think of it as some small thing, rather than knowing that this is the complete transformation of me from the old to the new.  Whatever it is, help me to be on the journey of putting the old ways behind me so that the new life may grow in me.  May Your presence in, with, and through me show me the truth.  Guide me today and every day to walk the path of faith You have set before me until I stand before You face to face.

Lord Jesus, in You is new life.  Through you, it is possible by the grace You purchased from the cross, to walk faithfully.  Guide me today and every day to walk humbly with You.  May I receive an attitude of gracious kindness toward others, as You have been gracious and kind to me, so as to witness Your presence in my life.  Through all things, strengthen me so that I may live this new life You have given me for Your sake.  Amen.

“Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest” (Ephesians 2:3).

The carnal mind governs those who have not been redeemed by the Lord.  Whether it is appetites of the stomach, desires of greed, or any number of other carnal things, humanity is driven by the things of the flesh.  The Lord has freed us by grace to not be bound by these things.  Come and live into the new life you have been given by Christ.  Do not satisfy your urges with what is carnal. Focus upon what truly satisfies; and these are the things of the Lord.

Lord, teach me this new life so that I may walk humbly with You in the newness of life that You have given me through grace.  Guide me Lord in the way of true life.  Lead me according to Your Holy Spirit so that I may know when the carnal things are tempting or even consuming me.  Through all things, guide me to have a clean and right spirit so that I may be in my right mind and begin again each day walking faithfully with You.

Lord Jesus, You have come into this world so that we may have true life.  Lead me in the way of living so that I may humbly walk with You my Lord and learn to live the new life, which is not driven by that which is physical, but instead, is led by You.  Help me through the struggles that come my way so that I may overcome the temptation to live with what the old Adam desires.  In all things, help to know that You are the author and finisher of my faith and that I am in Your loving and gracious hands.  Amen.   

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:1-2).

There are only two ways for which we can live.  The first way is that into which we were born, that is, in the disobedience of this age.  The other is to live in the salvation we have been given through Christ.  In which will you walk?  You cannot walk both ways, although you live with both of them present in this age.  This is the way of this age, but not of the age to come.  Live into the promise of the Lord now and forever.

Lord, help me to see the difference between the two positions in this age.  Help me to discern, lest I follow the wicked one and not You.  Guide me in Your grace to live into the life for which You have called me so that I may now and always follow You and the way of truth.  Keep me from the wicked one and help me to learn how to walk faithfully in the way You have established.

Lord Jesus, You are the way, truth, and life.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way You have made possible so that I would walk following You now and forever.  You have given me the example and made the way possible through the cross.  Help me live into the life that You have made possible through grace so that I would follow You now and forever.  Let me not be confused by this world, but instead, be transformed by You.  Amen.

“And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23)

Who is the head of your local church?  Jesus.  Who is head over all of the governments in this world?  Jesus.  See things as they are and not as people pretend them to be.  Be guided by the truth that Jesus is not a nice idea, but the Eternal God become flesh, who dwells among us and is leading the faithful to the Father.  Let reality govern your days and your deeds and do not let the false narrative of this age, which are filled with lies and deceit, be your guide.

Lord, give me eyes to see and a mind to discern so that Your voice may be heard clearly over all of the noise of this age which surrounds me.  Guide me in Your goodness to live into the life to which You have called me through faith so that I may walk the narrow way of faith and be led by You.  Fill me with Your goodness and mercy so that I may reflect Your light to those around me.  Lead me as You so choose so that I may walk by Your direction.

Lord Jesus, You have come as the example of life.  You have come as the Mediator.  You have come so that all who follow You would know the way to walk in this world and the direction which leads to faithfulness.  Guide me this day so that I may humbly go where You lead and live into the life for which You have called me.  Let me not be led astray by this world, but be transformed by the renewing of my mind by focusing upon You.  Amen.

“Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:21)

We prioritize things.  Do we have things in the right order?  Let’s see, Jesus gets five minutes in the morning and/or evening and a couple of hours on Sunday.  Is this the way we deal with the One who is above all?  Jesus is above all names and has dominion, power, and authority.  The first commandment tells us to love the Lord with all our being.  Check your priorities and make sure they are set in the right order.

Lord, where I do not have temperance and I am unbalanced, help me see more clearly and come into balance.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth so that I may walk humbly with You, the One in whom we all have our being.  Lead me to be one who lives out Your commands and follows You all the days of my life.  Let me not give You just lip service, but give myself whole-heartedly.

Lord Jesus, God in the flesh, You have come so that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me O Lord in the way of truth so that I may humbly walk where You lead.  Direct my days and my deeds so that I may live the truth that You are the One, above all others, and therefore, the most important person and the One who is central in my life.  Lead me as You will Lord and let my heart be conformed to You.  Amen.