So I really messed up!

Oops! In redid chapter 1 on Thursday!!!! So I'll be doing Thursday's and Friday's today :)

Scripture

Ephesians 2:

¹⁹Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

²⁰And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

²¹In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

²²In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Observation

What strikes me is that we are no longer strangers or foreigners. Which means that before Christ we were. Now we are fellowcitizens. It goes on to say that we are built together into a temple.

Application

I really feel excited by the connection and unity to fellow-believers! My biggest application to this is to keep studying more! I think I'd like to continue to search for online studies like the one Good Morning Girls has offered so that I can continue to grow with my Christian family!

Prayer

Thank you Lord for helping me connect with my fellowcitizens! That the technology available today is being used for a great purpose! Please continue to open up your word to me!

Scripture

Ephesians 2:19-20 "And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,"

Observation

If I believe in Christ, I have access to the power of God... that power was what raised Jesus from the dead.

Application

I need this power.

Prayer

Lord, please give me just a measure of your power today. Be real to me.

Fallen way behind!

Oops, gotten far behind this week. Here's my catch up!

^Scripture

^{Ephesians 2:11}Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

¹²That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

¹³But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

¹⁴For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

¹⁵Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

¹⁶And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

¹⁷And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

¹⁸For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Observation

God intends that salvation is for EVERYONE and that we are one because of our shared belief in Christ Jesus. By abolishing the law, he created peace.

Application

Again the thing that is just glaringly obvious to me here is that God wants all believers to forget their differences and all follow Jesus. The law is of no value.

Prayer

Lord, you know my heart. You know what I want.

I didn't skip Friday!

^Scripture

^{Ephesians 2:10}For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them

Observation

God wants us to do good. We should be motivated to do good, not to show that we're saved, or so for people to see and think good of us but because God wants us to. He meant us to. It should come from the heart. It should not be forced or coerced from us in any way.

Application

I want to do the things that I feel led to do. There's nothing wrong with doing what I've been asked to do, but I think it has a whole lot more meaning if it's something that I want to do. I even see this in my kids. Sometimes they'll ask me if they can do a chore, like sweep, do dishes, vacuum, fold laundry etc and they do it with enthusiasm and seem to really enjoy the task. They WANT to please me. But if it becomes a regular chore and I set the expectation that they MUST do it. It seems to somehow lose its desire to them! I think we as Christians can become this way.

Prayer

I want to please you, Lord! Remind me of the things that I can do to make you happy! Keep in the forefront of my mind all the "good works" that I can do for you and let me see them in that way. Help me to not concern myself with what others think of me and focus on my relationship with you!!!

Scripture for- today

Ephesians 2:8-9

⁸For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Observation

I've read and heard this verse a number of times and I believe that it is fairly self-explanatory. God gave us the gift of salvation and all we need to do to receive it is believe. That is so amazingly simple it seems that so many people complicate this process. The main thing I keep seeing is that if you don't get some part of it just right and don't see the right "fruit" in your life then you were never really saved in the first place. I think that THAT idea falls into the category of "works". I can't question another person's experience but I've heard things said on a regular basis that I can see how someone who's salvation experience was some time ago and maybe they've allowed things in their lives to take precedent over their relationship with God then maybe they would wonder whether their salvation is true! I believe that my faith in God has given me the gift of salvation that no person can take away...not even me! There is nothing I can do to get saved and nothing I can do to get UNsaved! Thank you God! The other part of this I see is simple...lest any man should boast. I have nothing to be 'proud' of.

Application

I did nothing to earn my salvation, God just gave it to me. I am nothing and I deserve nothing less than death. But thank God, He chose to sacrifice His one and only son to save me the sentence I truly deserved! I believe this. And that's just how simple it is! I need to stay humble, I am better than no one else. We are all just sinners, saved by grace!

Prayer

These verses just keep humbling me more and more. To the fact that I am nothing and that all I (or anyone else) needs is faith. Lord, help me to show others the simplicity of your love for sinners. That it really is not of works; whether I do things, or don't do things doesn't matter at all, it is believing that matters. My heart is yours Lord! Thank you thank you thank you!

^{Alrighty, week 3 day 3! I still haven't mastered the art of getting up before my kids so I'm still doing this piece by piece while Danielle does school work, getting up frequently to tend to the other 3 kidlets!}

^Scripture.

⁶And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

⁷That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Observation.

Here, once again is the words us and together. I love those words. It makes me feel so connected to fellow believers! And that we all sit TOGETHER in heavenly places! I want to research that phrase "in Christ" more... oh wow...

In Christ - We are one as a body of believers

Romans 12:5

5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Galatians 3:28

28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 3:6

6This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

This is so very encouraging to read. There is so much more I found it on this page.

Besides all that, verse 7 reminds us that He is kind enough to us to show us the riches of His grace.

Application

All those who believe will sit with me in heavenly places so I should treat all fellow believers with love, respect and kindness. I need to be humble and remember that as a follower of Jesus I need to act like Him. I have the power THROUGH my Lord to do this!

Prayer

Firstly, this would be so much more meaningful if only I could get up before the kids. Lord, get me up tomorrow and remind me that I want to stay up! Keep me focused on my need to be close to you so that I can start my day off right!

Second, thank you for humbling me and reminding me that I am part of a whole group of believers and that we are TOGETHER with the same purpose! Thank you for showing me your grace, even though I really don't deserve it.

TOGETHER in Christ :)

I'm so grateful for this bible study! Its really helping me stay focused on my walk with God! Thank you Girls!

Scripture

^{Ephesians 2: 4} But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, ⁵Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Observation

I love the language used here, God`s RICH mercy and His GREAT love. Another thing striking me here is that Paul is referring to US, he is including all believers into one group who are loved. Then he goes on to remind us that we were dead in sins. Yes, weren`t we all dead. That was our sentence, we were dead men walking so to speak. But Christ paid that penalty for us!!! Praise GOD!!!! He quickened us, TOGETHER, with Christ. Then he says by grace ye are saved, obviously he means himself as well. It seems to me like something I`ve been taught may be unravelling. Hmmm....

Application

Not too sure really how to apply this thought. I suppose these verses serve as a wonderful reminder that we were all walking dead, due to our sinful state and that ALL believers are loved by God and saved! I guess I want to try to be more humble because its by God`s grace that I`m saved not because of the rules that I follow!

Prayer

Lord, thank you for your mercy, love and salvation! Help me to be more humble.