Eph5

Walking in the light takes careful attention. Our natural tendency is to walk in darkness. Without intention, no one will walk with God. Reject impurity, pursue purity. Reject greed, pursue generosity.

Decide today to pursue the light. Confess sin and choose to walk in love. Are there people in our lives we have hurt? Seek forgiveness. Are there people who have hurt us? Forgive them.

Today we will be faced with all kinds of options. Choose to follow Jesus.

Eph3

What is the "mystery of the Messiah"? A mystery "once hidden, now revealed".

It is the gospel! And the implications of the gospel lived out in the church! The church is the bride of Christ! She is to be the greatest expression of His love throughout the world!

It is the church that should be breaking down racial, social and economic barriers! We are one in Christ.

As believers, are we reflecting this gospel in our lives and choices?

Eph2

Salvation = God's grace, through faith, apart from works. Period.

If this reality somehow causes us to do less for God, we don't understand the gospel! If we are motivated to try and earn our own salvation, we don't understand the gospel. Salvation is a gift from God…period.

We who are saved are God's workmanship prepared to do "good works". If we are not giving ourselves for the work God has prepared for us, we are wasting our lives.

Eph1

"God appointed Jesus as head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of the One who fills all things in every way."

Jesus is leading and building His church. If we want to be involved in the movement of God in our lifetime, we need to be actively involved in what Jesus is doing through His church!

How should we evaluate anything called "church"? I believe this answer is simple. Do we encounter Jesus whenever the church gathers? Are we convicted of our sin and drawn to live for Christ? Is our gathering a religious duty or a relational dynamic?

Christ lived, died and was resurrected for His bride, the church. Nothing should be more exciting that this!

Mk13

Jesus is coming back! His return is more certain than death. Jesus said, "No one except the Father knows when... be alert! Be ready! Heaven and earth will pass away but My words stand forever."

What would be different about our lives if we actually believed that Jesus might return today? What would we change? Are we living in a way that says we are "expecting" His return.

Currently, I have three of my children who are "expecting". They don't know the exact time, but they all are preparing for their kids to come. We all are excited. We all are talking about it. We are preparing our homes and family to receive our new treasures.

Shouldn't we also be preparing for an even greater thing that we also are expecting? Jesus is coming back. This is a fact.

Mk12

When was the last time we were in a gospel conversation with someone who does not know Jesus? Think about it? Is there anyone who is considering following Jesus because of our influence?

I am saddened that so many "christians" rarely talk to others about Christ. In fact, most never do! We are more likely to make converts to our political views than to the gospel. It is a sad reality.

Jesus was constantly in conversations about what mattered…eternal life. He taught His disciples to engage culture with conversation. We should still be having those critical conversations.

Share the good news today.

Mk11

Is our church characterized by prayer? Are our lives characterized by prayer? Jesus was angry with what He saw in the temple complex. The gathering of God's people had become a market for prophet rather than a place to encounter God.

Jesus said, "My house shall be called a house of prayer for the nations." Not only should our churches be characterized by prayer, those prayers should not be selfish! What are we praying for? Are we praying for the "nations"?

Every day at 10:02 my alarm goes off. It is a reminder for me to pray for laborers in God's harvest. In Luke 10:2 Jesus asked His disciple to pray for laborers. We should all be praying. My 10:02 alarm is just one way I remind myself to pray.

Prayer should be our pattern, not just an afterthought.