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Thursday, December 12, 2024

346 - "Immanuel---God With Us" Ephesians 1-4

Ephesians 3: 15-19. Paul's posture was a humble one. He bended his knees. But it's what comes from his heart that is so reverent, so pure. He draws near to his God. His God bends His Ear to listen. What will God hear me say today? May we ask for strength, spiritual strength for the work ahead of us this day. "To be strengthened with might" on the inside by faith where it really counts. More than we are this present moment, this present circumstance. The Indwelling Immanuel. Oh, God be with us today. Rooted. Grounded. In Love. Oh, to have that fixed into our hearts, where nothing can shake it. No diagnosis. No phone call. No loss. No separation. Nothing. His Redeeming Love defies dimensions: breadth, and length, and depth, and height. Exceeding Greatness. Unsearchable Riches.

"Power, Success, Happiness, as the world knows them, are his who will fight for them hard enough; but peace, love, joy are only from God." Frederick Buechner. And God is the one whom Jacob fought there by the river, of course, and whom in one way or another we all of us fight. "I will not let you go God unless you bless me." We bend our knees. Leaning hard on Immanuel. Strengthen us on the inside where it really counts, really matters.

PRAYER FROM PSALMS
"COME, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker." Psalm 95:6. When David's son lay dying, David grieved. When David learned the news of his son's death. David arose, ate, and went to the Temple to worship. In all that we do not understand today in our lives, help us to wrestle well, worship well.
PHOTO: Bend my knees. What will God hear me say to Him today? My last words tonight...All praise and honor and glory to God this Christmas which is celebrated every single day in our lives. 
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1 comment:

  1. annetteDecember 9, 2013 at 7:34 AM

    The Dividing Wall of Hostility has been torn down for us.

    "But now in Christ Jesus you[Gentiles] who once were far off have been brought near in the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. (Ephesians 2:13-18 RSV)

    This passage mentions peace three times.

    1. He is our peace. Enter into the inner courts you Gentiles, for Christ has come. Christ has made Jew and Gentile one family. No more division. Unity. Peace.

    2. Making Peace. Jesus did the work to allow Gentiles like me to be grafted in God's good plan for Life. No segregation. Reconciliation through One Body. One Cross.

    3. Preaching Peace. For through Him, both Gentile and Jew have access to His Holy Spirit.

    "...his name shall be called
    "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6b RSV)

    Peace on earth. Peace in our hearts. Jesus is our peace.

    ReplyDelete

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