TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 2:6-16
We have the mind of Christ. - 1 Corinthians 2:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
What credential enables someone to understand Scripture? Is a Ph.D. required? Clearly not, since some professors of theology and biblical studies use their knowledge to argue against the truth of God’s Word. What about a background in the sciences, in order to know the details of God’s creation? But some brilliant scientists conclude that the supernatural is absent from the natural world. Perhaps in-depth exploration of the human psyche and interactions makes the Bible clearer? Again, some astute observers of the human condition have determined that spirituality is simply a coping mechanism, not the reality of a relationship with the Savior.

The Corinthian culture prized rhetorical flourish and extensive education. These things weren’t inherently evil, but the problem came when they were valued above the truth of God’s Word. Advanced degrees, polished public speaking, or high I.Q. scores are not the foundation for our spiritual growth.

In today’s text, Paul describes the work of the triune God as essential for us to gain wisdom. First, God the Father has prepared great things for us, wonders beyond the scope of our imagination or scientific discovery. Paul alludes to Isaiah 64, which describes God as one who acts on behalf of His people, a powerful God who still cares deeply for their well being (Isa. 64:4-5).

Second, we must have the Holy Spirit (v. 10). We are not left to our own limited devices—the Spirit has been given to us to enable us to know the words and deeds and character of God. Through the Spirit it is possible for us to understand spiritual truth.

Third, we have the mind of Christ. The word mind encompasses more than just intellectual capability; it includes the will, disposition, and attitude. Philippians 2 introduces the description of Jesus’ humility and sacrificial love in this way: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus . . .” (v. 5, KJV). Here is a key to our growth in knowledge—a love for others in obedience to God that reveals spiritual discernment of the wondrous care of God.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
No matter what your level of education, you can have spiritual knowledge and wisdom. God has prepared great things for us, He has sent His Holy Spirit to indwell us, and we have the example of the Lord Jesus to guide us. What sources have you looked to for spiritual discernment? Have you been swayed by the world’s credentials? Our Christian leaders should be characterized by the mind of Christ and the leading of the Spirit. Only then can they have the insight to understand the truth.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 4:2-7
I am the light of the world. - John 8:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 2009, a Pakistani man named Kishan met a Christian woman, Mashir, who shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with him and prayed for months for the healing of his daughter. God miraculously healed his child, and Kishan embraced faith in Christ. When confronted by neighbors upset about his conversion, Kishan testified: “We were in the dark, but now we are in the light because Jesus Christ is our Savior who healed my daughter. We found a new life in Jesus Christ, we cannot deny Him, and we are ready to sacrifice anything.” His testimony so impressed one neighbor, Bashir, that he and his family have also committed their lives to Christ.

Our passage today emphasizes the ways that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings us into the light of the knowledge of God. This text reminds us that the starting point for growing in knowledge is the person and work of Jesus.

We saw yesterday that Paul countered the Corinthians’ appeal to fancy rhetoric and worldly wisdom. He continued that emphasis in this letter. His proclamation of truth was not couched in complicated arguments or rhetorical flourish (v. 2). If the truth of the gospel was unclear, it was on account of the deception of the Evil One (v. 3).

Notice the way that Paul used the image of light. God is the originator of light (Gen. 1:3; 1 John 1:5). This refers not only to physical light but also to spiritual light—He “made his light shine in our hearts” (v. 6). This spiritual light is the glory of God. And the glory of God is fully embodied in Christ, who as the fully divine Son of God sacrificed Himself for our sin and was resurrected into glory (vv. 4, 6).

The gospel of Jesus Christ, then, opens our eyes to the light of God’s glory—His love and justice and mercy. We cannot grow in the knowledge of God without embracing the truth about Jesus. This is a “treasure” that transforms our lives and enables us to know the power of God (v. 7).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
This text and the example of Mashir provide us with a good model of sharing the gospel with unbelievers. First, speak the truth plainly. Trust in the power of God, not our own arguments or rhetorical flourish, to remove the veil of unbelief. Second, pray for and minister to the needs of your unbelieving loved ones. The powerful witness of our love in action can prepare their hearts to receive the gospel and accept Jesus as their Savior.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Jonah 2:8-10
Salvation comes from the LORD. - Jonah 2:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
The great hymnwriter Charles Wesley exulted in God’s love: “Love divine, all loves excelling, Joy of heav’n, to earth come down! / Fix in us Thy humble dwelling; All Thy faithful mercies crown. / Jesus, Thou art all compassion; Pure, unbounded love Thou art. / Visit us with Thy salvation; Enter every trembling heart. . . . Finish then Thy new creation; Pure and spotless let us be. / Let us see Thy great salvation, Perfectly restored in Thee. / Changed from glory into glory, Till in heav’n we take our place, / Till we cast our crowns before Thee, Lost in wonder, love and praise.”

In this classic hymn, as in today’s Scripture reading, we hear the praise and prayer of a man who rejoices in God’s salvation. From a rebellious and disobedient prophet, Jonah was transformed into a man who worshiped, gave thanks, and promised, “What I have vowed I will make good” (v. 9). By this he meant he would be obedient to God’s call on his life—he would go to Nineveh and deliver God’s message. No more running; no more fighting. “Salvation comes from the LORD” indeed! After the miracles and acts of God already recorded, there came one more. The fish “vomited Jonah onto dry land” (v. 10). This is not very flattering language, but the prophet’s life was saved. That’s why Jonah pitied those “who cling to worthless idols” when the one true God alone deserves faith and worship.

God knew very well that Jonah still had much to learn, but He had mercy on him anyway. The rest of the book testifies to the fact that the prophet persisted in his sin of failing to love his neighbor, a sin rooted in misunderstanding the heart of God and His love for the world. While today’s reading shows a heart yearning once again for the Lord, later events would show this same heart to be made of stone (4:10-11). Isn’t this typical of human nature? We repent, then backslide; confess our sin, then repeat it; and return to the Lord, only to find our self-deception and sin run deeper than we had imagined. And He loves us anyway!

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Part of the transformation God worked in Jonah’s heart was to make him willing to receive grace. The prophet had resisted God’s merciful pursuit, preferring to drown in the Mediterranean rather than cry out to the Lord. Until he came to his senses, he had been among those willing to “forfeit the grace that could be theirs” (v. 8). Like Jonah, we should know better. But all too often we cling to our own ways rather than casting ourselves upon God’s mercy and grace.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 John 5:13-21
The Son of God has . . . given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. - 1 John 5:20
TODAY IN THE WORD
Epistemology is the branch of philosophy that studies theories of knowledge. How do you know that you know anything? Different epistemologists offer different answers: some posit that knowledge is only possible to the extent of sense perception, while others assert that it is impossible to know anything with certainty.

In our passage today, John described a number of things that believers in Christ can know with full confidence. As we conclude our section on how to grow in the knowledge of God, we’ll also see the implications for our intercession and protection.

The first thing that believers can know is the assurance of eternal life (v. 13). The resurrection of Jesus has guaranteed our own future; death is not the end of our existence, for we will live with God forever. Second, we know we can approach God with confidence (v. 14). As we grow in our knowledge of God, we know more of His will and our own desires are shaped to conform with His.

Not only can we approach God with our petitions and pleas, but we also know that He hears us (v. 15). This passage reveals some of God’s character: He is not a distant deity who does not care for people, nor does He demand to be bribed or cajoled. God loves His people, hears their requests, and responds to them. This means that we can also go to God on behalf of others and intercede for their restoration (vv. 16-17).

Next, we know that growing in the grace and knowledge of God bears the fruit of freedom from persistent sin. This isn’t a doctrine of sinless perfection, but rather the promise of freedom from the bondage of sin and protection from the Evil One (v. 18). In a world blinded by Satan, we are the children of God and safe both now and for all eternity.

Finally, we are able to know all this and have hope, confidence, and protection because of Jesus Christ (v. 20). Faith in Jesus enables us to grow in the knowledge of God and to declare that He is truth.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
This letter concludes with the exhortation, “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols” (v. 21). In light of what we know about God and our relationship with Him, how can we pursue any lesser affections? In your spiritual journal, write out each thing we know as believers and its implications for hope, confidence, prayer, protection, etc. Use this list in your prayer time and throughout the day to help keep your attention and devotion focused on our loving Savior and God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hosea 4:1-9
My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. - Hosea 4:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
We take it for granted that knowledge is an important part of safety. We expect doctors to be thoroughly trained to practice their profession; teenagers must study and pass driving tests before they are licensed to drive a car. The government mandates health and safety warnings on numerous products to inform consumers of potential hazards. A lack of knowledge can be deadly.

In our passage today, we’ll see the deadly spiritual consequences from a lack of knowledge. For the next few days we’ll examine why we should care about growing in the knowledge of God, and this text from Hosea provides a strong exhortation for pursuing growth.

The lack of knowledge described here goes beyond simple ignorance or lack of information. The prophet was bringing a charge from the Lord: his audience was not exhibiting the character of God’s people, and they were refusing to even acknowledge God (v. 1). Israel had long experience with God’s faithfulness and love, and yet they refused to walk in His ways. They preferred to pursue their own inclinations, strategies, and pleasures.

Notice that the rejection of the knowledge of God extended beyond the rank-and-file people and also characterized the religious leaders (v. 7). What a tragic indictment on God’s people: those responsible for leading the growth in the knowledge of God instead were disgraceful, relishing the wickedness and even profiting from sin (v. 8).

When the knowledge of God is rejected, deadly consequences follow. The people and priests would be punished, ignored, and rejected by God. Not only that, but the land itself groaned and suffered as a result of this sin (see Rom. 8:22). It’s tempting to think that our spiritual stagnation affects only our own personal relationship with God. As this text reveals, the contagion of spiritual decline can infect entire communities and even creation.

In contrast to the benefits from knowing God outlined in yesterday’s reading, the price of refusing to acknowledge God in today’s reading seems stark. Amazingly, He remains true to His character of love and forgiveness (see Hosea 14).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
This passage points us to three categories for which we can pray. First, pray for your spiritual leaders today. Ask God to fill them with a passion for knowing Him and His truth. Second, pray for those impacted by natural and environmental disasters, like the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, earthquake in Haiti, and pollution in Beijing. Third, commit your own heart to seeking God and spiritual growth. Thank Him for His willingness to forgive, embrace, and restore His children!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 1:18-31
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie. - Romans 1:25
TODAY IN THE WORD
Lisa Bradley and her husband seemed to have a perfect life—good jobs, beautiful home, two healthy children, and lovely cars and clothes. But behind this facade was the truth of escalating debt and a crumbling marriage. Lisa was convinced that an image of success was essential, no matter the cost. Rather than curtail her shopping, she would simply ignore the bills, credit card statements, and collections calls. She finally sought help when their debt neared $200,000 and her husband threatened to leave.

Telling ourselves lies and attempting to bury the truth can damage and destroy our lives. In yesterday’s reading we saw the consequences of refusing to acknowledge God. This was not just one anecdote from the Old Testament about God and the people of Israel. As we see in our reading, people continue to suppress the truth about God, and God continues to exercise judgment on sin.

This is another example of the consequences of refusing to grow in the knowledge of God. Compared to the passage in Hosea, the stakes here were even higher—the people weren’t just ignoring God, they were actively promoting lies as though they were truth (vv. 18, 25, 28, 32). Paul emphasized that these people did not suffer from ignorance. They knew God and His decrees, righteousness, and truth. Still they turned away.

This passage is an example of Scripture’s denunciation of homosexuality (vv. 26-27). But we should not let this divert our attention from other sins listed in this chapter. The description of depravity here extends beyond sexual immorality. Notice the examples Paul gave of “wickedness, evil, greed and depravity”: envy, deceit, gossip, arrogance, disobedience to parents, and ruthlessness (vv. 29-31). If we are honestly evaluating our hearts, we’ll acknowledge that we all fall short of God’s righteousness.

Honest assessment of our hearts is the point of this text. We all stand convicted of sin. The question, then, is how will we respond? Will we decide to suppress this truth and live the way we want? Or will we cry out for forgiveness and seek to grow in the knowledge of God?

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In this section of our study we are answering the question, “Why grow in the knowledge of God?” The response from the Scripture yesterday and today resounds: Because lack of growth signals a dire spiritual condition, followed by God’s righteous judgment. God has provided us with His Word, access to His throne in prayer, the example of our Savior Jesus Christ, and the indwelling of His Spirit. We have no excuse. Reject the lies and walk in His truth.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Corinthians 10:1-6
We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. - 2 Corinthians 10:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
Dieter Dengler was a German-born U.S. Navy pilot who escaped from a Laotian prison camp during the Vietnam War. He survived for 23 days in the harsh jungle before being rescued, considered one of the most amazing escapes ever by a prisoner of war. His survival has been credited to his willingness to forage for food and eat anything as well as his mental discipline under adversity. Though his body might have been captured, Dengler’s mind was constantly planning for his escape.

This kind of mental discipline comes from character, training, and adversity (Dengler grew up foraging for food in the Black Forest during World War II). Spiritual discipline comes in much the same way, and it is required for our growth in the knowledge of God. This is an active engagement, not a passive one. Our passage today provides a helpful contrast to the willful suppression of the knowledge of God that we studied yesterday.

As we have seen in our other passages from Paul’s letters to the church in Corinth, the Apostle contrasted worldly standards and spiritual ones (v. 2). The Corinthians had misjudged the value of worldly techniques and arguments. They were distracted from the pursuit of God by worldly assessments of success.

These distractions were leading them away from the knowledge of God, and Paul actively resisted anything that moved him further from the Lord. Notice the verbs he used: “demolish” and “take captive” (vv. 4-5). When presented with the allure of temptation, we should respond with spiritual weapons to demolish the mirage. When urged to follow the crowd instead of following Christ, we must run closer to Him. When pursuing our own pleasure or status threatens to derail our spiritual fellowship, we must take our thoughts captive and submit them to the Lord.

Yesterday we saw the active suppression of the knowledge of God. Today we see an active pursuit of the knowledge of God. Paul did not depict this as an easy stroll in the park. He described it as a battle with the highest stakes—our own lives. Every thought must be in obedience to Christ.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In this life, we are not free from the temptation and allure of sin. How do we pursue the knowledge of God and take our thoughts captive for Christ? Only through spiritual disciplines—daily Bible study, prayer, and time with God. We also must reject our own pretensions that we know best or that we can handle temptation on our own. Finally, we can encourage each other through fellowship, prayer, and study together to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus (Heb. 12:2-3).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Jonah 4:6-9
God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him? - Job 36:22
TODAY IN THE WORD
You might have enjoyed a slice of ice-cold watermelon over the recent Labor Day weekend. Chances are, though, that your watermelon would have been dwarfed by the world record watermelon grown several years ago in Hope, Arkansas. Lloyd Bright, a retired school administrator, and his family have grown watermelons for more than 40 years. They have broken the world record three different times—with a 200-pound melon in 1979, a 260-pound melon in 1985, and a 268.8-pound melon in 2005.

Watermelons, of course, grow on vines. Oddly, here in the closing paragraphs of the story of Jonah, a vine takes center stage. Many commentators believe it was a castor oil plant, due to its quick growth and large leaves. In the same way that God provided the “great fish,” He also provided the plant, the worm, and the wind (vv. 6-8). He hadn’t given up on teaching Jonah a spiritual lesson, and He used nature as a parable to drive the point home. The dramatic rescue-at-sea had partially done the job, in that

Jonah had given up on rebellion and chosen obedience. Now as the prophet sat grumpily outside Nineveh, God continued to teach His servant about Himself. Yes, the city had deserved judgment, but then they had repented and accepted God’s mercy. Sound familiar? Jonah, too, had deserved judgment for his blatant disobedience, but given a chance, he had repented and accepted God’s mercy.

What right, then, God asked for the second time, did Jonah have to be angry (v. 9a)? None whatsoever. It’s a rhetorical question. But Jonah, willfully and irrationally and pridefully, asserted he did have a right to be angry (v. 9b). Despite the momentary happiness over the shade God had provided, Jonah’s feelings remained unchanged. He felt “suicidal” not only over God’s mercy being extended to the Ninevites but also over the withering of a single vine. The miracle is that God used such a man for ministry! We learn here that God as a teacher is patient yet forceful, compassionate yet unrelenting, and determined to purify the human heart of sin.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Have you ever found yourself lecturing God on what He should do? It’s prideful and irrational and stubborn to “know better” than God. He’s the sovereign King of the universe and His ways are incomprehensibly higher than ours (see Isa. 55:8-9)! It’s not that God doesn’t want to hear what we have to say—check the Psalms for examples of emotionally honest language—but our proper attitude before Him should be one of reverence, submission, and worship.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Peter 3:1-18
Be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men. - 2 Peter 3:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1974, heiress Patty Hearst was kidnapped by the radical group Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA). After several negotiation attempts for her release failed, she assisted the SLA two months later in a bank robbery. She was arrested, and during her trial pleaded that she suffered from Stockholm Syndrome, a condition when victims depend on their captors and then become sympathetic to them. Hearst was still convicted and sentenced to prison.

We’ve already discussed the importance of taking every thought captive for Christ (see 2 Cor. 10:6). Our passage today warns that without growing in the knowledge of God, we can easily be deceived and co-opted by the evil of this world. We must guard our sympathies so that we don’t find ourselves in league with “lawless men” (v. 17).

In this final chapter of his letter, the apostle Peter provided three reasons why we should grow in the knowledge of God. First, evil is real, present, and persuasive. The arguments of those who scoff at the notion of a holy, loving God might make sense to those who “deliberately forget” the word and work of the Lord (v. 5). The temptation to follow their own desires seduces many into rejecting the knowledge of God (v. 3). Peter knew that even believers struggle, and he urged them to be on their guard, a picture of active vigilance against sinful lies (v. 17).

Second, Peter discussed the nature of God. He is the Creator of the world (v. 5). He is the Judge of the world (v. 7). And He is also patient, filled with love for His creation and extending forgiveness to all those who seek Him (vv. 9, 15). The God we know is not a celestial bully nor a humorless tyrant nor a fickle snob. He is holy, and He has also provided a means of salvation for His people.

Finally, we need an eternal perspective. The doctrine of End Times matters because it should impact how we live now (vv. 11, 13-14). Evil is real, and God will judge it. But He has prepared a new place for those who are saved. As we look forward to eternity with Him, we have every incentive to learn more about Him now.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Perhaps you’d like to take your study of God’s Word a step further. We are blessed to live in a time of numerous resources. Your pastor can recommend some commentaries on books of the Bible, or you might consider taking an online Bible study course with Moody Bible Institute. For more information on this option, call 1-800-758-6352. Pray that God will bless your study with a deeper knowledge of Him, protection from evil snares, and a focus on eternity.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Acts 13:13-48
Through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. - Acts 13:38
TODAY IN THE WORD
According to a July 2 report on Newshour, 40 percent of Americans from the ages of 18 to 29 don’t know the country from which the United States gained independence. The poll provoked widespread hand-wringing about the state of contemporary American education if so many young adults were unaware of such a fact.

Knowing the facts of history is important, for they inform any subsequent analysis or conclusions about our understanding of the past. This is true spiritually as well, and our passage today shows wonderfully how using the account of God’s past work can inspire a tremendous spiritual response.

We are transitioning at this point in our study from a focus on growing in knowledge to examining what it means to grow in grace. Our text today is a perfect link, for it connects knowledge of God and grace of God in a fascinating way. The context is a message that Paul delivered in the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch. Notice that the invitation was to offer “a message of encouragement” (v. 15).

Paul offered the ultimate encouragement: he proclaimed the gospel of Jesus (vv. 23, 32, 38). Since his audience was comprised of Jews, he carefully connected the story of Jesus to the story of God’s work with His people throughout history. God had delivered them from Egypt, raised up judges, and anointed David. This same God, who had consistently cared for and rescued His people, continued His work of salvation through sending His Son to preach repentance, die on behalf of sinners, and then be raised from the dead (v. 30).

After this stirring sermon, the people responded in an interesting way: they urged Paul and Barnabas to “continue in the grace of God.” Why not say “the knowledge of God” when Paul had just recounted a sermon full of facts and history? It’s because they had heard the gospel. Yes, the “good news” about Jesus is factually true, but it is also filled with life-saving grace (v. 32). The gospel offers the opportunity to be spared from the consequences of our sin and to have life with God. What grace!

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One way you can grow in grace is by reviewing your own spiritual history. Whether you accepted Christ as a child or an adult, you can trace the ways that God was working and preparing you to receive His grace. Spend some time reflecting on your past, perhaps the heritage of a godly family, a dramatic conversion, or a series of remarkable events that led you to faith. You might even want to record your history of experiencing God’s grace, to encourage both yourself and others.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 5:1-11
We also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. - Romans 5:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
In past centuries, royal weddings were elaborately orchestrated affairs of state with monarchs hammering out alliances or trade deals to be sealed by the marriage of their children. Love usually played no part in the match. Royal families in the twenty-first century are going a different direction. This past June, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden married her former personal trainer, and in 2006 Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark married Mary Donaldson, an Australian woman he met during the 2000 Olympics. Reportedly he first introduced himself as, “Hi, I’m Fred from Denmark.”

Such access to the royal family would have been inconceivable for commoners in prior generations. Even more remarkable is the access that believers—who were sinners in rebellion against God—now have to the royal throne of God, the Lord of all creation. Only one person has made this possible: our Lord Jesus Christ (v. 2).

Our passage today is an exploration of God’s grace, summed up in verse 8: “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” We were ungodly, powerless, and unrighteous (vv. 6-7). Still, God extended grace to us by sending Jesus to die for our sins and then raising Him from the dead.

Faith in Jesus provides the access to this grace. But if we’ve already trusted Christ and experienced the grace of salvation, what does it mean to grow in grace? Growing—or continuing—in grace means rejoicing. First, Paul says that we rejoice in “the hope of the glory of God” (vv. 2, 11). As we grow in grace, we focus our priorities on eternal and spiritual matters, finding joy in bringing glory to God and looking forward to eternal life with Him.

Second, we rejoice in our sufferings (v. 3). Most of us aren’t too excited about suffering, much less rejoice in it. But as we grow in grace, we are able to see even our sufferings from God’s eternal perspective. Ultimately, suffering produces hope, which is confirmed by our experience of God’s love deep in our innermost being (v. 5). Thanks to Jesus, we have grace, hope, and joy in our Christian journey.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
These verses don’t minimize the pain of suffering. Even Jesus experienced mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual agony in His crucifixion. This is not a call to a “stiff upper lip” or false assertions that “everything will be okay.” Instead, if you are suffering, you have access to God to pour out your heart. You can ask the Holy Spirit to help you feel the love of God. You can press the Lord to fill you with His perspective so you can have hope. God has promised that our suffering will not be in vain.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ephesians 1:3-14
God . . . has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. - Ephesians 1:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
For parents determined to bestow lavish gifts on their children, retailers are ready to offer ideas. The 2003 edition of FAO Schwarz’s “Ultimate Toy Catalogue” included a $15,000 Lego life-size model of an NBA star, as well as a $30,000 gasoline-powered off-road vehicle to give kids their “first driving experience.” If that’s too traditional, Hammacher Schlemmer offers a Levitating Hover Scooter for only $13,000.

In a consumer-driven culture, it can be difficult to distinguish between getting stuff and receiving blessings. We can find ourselves distracted by acquiring material things rather than experiencing spiritual growth. Our passage today describes the way that God has lavished gifts upon His children—and every item is better than Legos or hovercraft.

This passage begins with Paul praising God and noting that He has given us “every spiritual blessing” (v. 3). Then notice some of what follows: chosen to be blameless in His sight; adopted as His children; His glorious grace; redemption and forgiveness; wisdom and understanding; and the Holy Spirit, a guarantee for our eternal inheritance.

To borrow a line from the popular MasterCard commercials, this list is priceless. Now see how it is that we receive these amazing blessings: only when we are in Christ. Review this passage and count how many times the phrases “in Christ” or “in him” occur—it’s nearly every verse. As we saw yesterday, without Christ we deserve full punishment for our sin and rebellion against God. In Him we receive full acceptance and adoption as God’s children.

Paul inserted the gospel in his description of these blessings. How do we find our identity in Christ? When we hear the truth of the gospel and believe it (v. 13). It’s not from any good work that we do to impress God; our new identity results from accepting the truth about Jesus. The full Trinity is involved, for upon our belief in Jesus, we are given the Holy Spirit, which confirms that we indeed belong to God and will receive our inheritance as His children (v. 14). God is not stingy. He delights to lavish the riches of His grace (vv. 7-8).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It doesn’t matter who your parents are, where you came from, how much education you have, or how much money you make: when you believe the gospel message about Jesus, God calls you His child and lavishes His gifts upon you. If you struggle with comparing yourself or your stuff with others around you, review this list of the gifts God has given you. If you find yourself tempted to have low self-esteem, rejoice in your identity in Christ as God’s child.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ephesians 2:1-10
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith. - Ephesians 2:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
Ivan Karp has created an art collection out of junk. In the 1950s, he realized that many of the decorative ornaments on old New York City buildings were being destroyed during the post-World War II building boom. He began to gather the cherub faces in terra cotta, a roaring lion made of zinc, the intricate iron scrollwork, and a granite sculpture from the train station. Over 1,500 pieces were assembled into a permanent collection at the Brooklyn Museum in 1966.

When other people saw rubble, Karp saw treasure. In the same way, we were spiritual refuse, but God saw us with love. If we are to grow in understanding His grace, we have to grasp the miracle of our salvation and transformation.

Scripture doesn’t sugarcoat the reality of our pre-conversion existence. Verses 1 through 3 of our text describe us as dead, disobedient, seeking only to gratify our cravings, and objects of wrath. We were as spiritually slimy and covered with the muck of sin as we could possibly be. This makes the next statement even more remarkable: “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ” (v. 4). Though we were stinking with the rot of wickedness, God loved us!

This is the essence of His grace (v. 5). God’s love is more than a nice feeling. He didn’t simply look on us with pity. God’s love is active; His love compelled Him to make our salvation possible. What’s more, His love doesn’t stop at the moment of our conversion, for He intends to shower His people with “the incomparable riches of his grace” throughout eternity (v. 7). Our salvation in Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit are down payments for the eternal joy we will share with our loving God.

God’s grace not only saves us, it also transforms us. Before, we were capable only of transgression and following the ways of the world. Now, we are equipped to do good works that bring glory to God (v. 10). Our lives are testimonies to God’s grace and love.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As part of your worship time today, sing a song of praise to God for His grace and love. Hymns like “Wonderful Grace of Jesus” or “O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus” are good choices, or maybe praise songs like “Your Grace” echo your heart. And the beautiful song “Amazing Grace” by John Newton, the slave-ship captain who turned to Christ, should always express our wonder and thankfulness that God loved us, saved us, and transformed us.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: James 4:1-12
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. - James 4:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
According to an article in the Korea Times, the number of legal disputes between family members over an inheritance has greatly increased in recent years. In 2002, 69 lawsuits were filed in Seoul Family Court over an alleged unfair distribution of an inheritance. Nearly 300 such lawsuits were filed in 2008, including a suit brought by two sisters against their older brothers; in another case, a son sued his mother over the implementation of his father’s will. Since many large corporations in South Korea are family-run, these disputes can have devastating consequences for the business as well as the family.

As believers, we share an inheritance of salvation in Christ, indwelling by the Holy Spirit, and eternal life with God. This makes our quarrels and disputes even more tragic. We’ve seen how we receive grace out of God’s great love, not our own pedigree. And we’ve seen how that grace includes our ability to bring glory to God rather than follow the ways of the world.

Yet as the book of James shows, we still need to be reminded to “live a life worthy of the calling” we have received (Eph. 4:1). This book often hits us where the rubber meets the road, so to speak—there’s nothing abstract or idealistic about James. This Scripture unveils some of our most besetting struggles and calls us to acknowledge and then address the sin in our lives.

James lists a number of problems between believers, including quarrels, covetousness, selfishness, and slander. The root cause of this selfishness and dissension, though, was pride. Not only did people think they were better than each other, there was also a lack of submission to God. These two postures of pride go together—if we think that we should be in charge spiritually, we are rejecting God’s sovereignty and putting ourselves in judgment over our fellow believers (vv. 10-12).

Thankfully, James presents not just a problem but also a solution. The continued grace of God is available when we remember that God is in charge and submit ourselves to Him. Our repentance is met with His mercy; our humility is met with His grace.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In churches that follow liturgy, prayers of confession are part of each service, followed by a reminder that God forgives those who are repentant. Churches without liturgy often encourage private confession, a vital part of each believer’s prayer life. Confession means allowing the Holy Spirit to search our lives and convict us of sin. Then we humbly surrender the matter to God and ask for His forgiveness. This helps us remain in fellowship with God and prepares us for relationships with others.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Peter 1:1-9
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness. - 2 Peter 1:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
Dr. Joseph Ferrari, a professor at DePaul University, studies procrastinators. Some 20 percent of the population identify themselves as chronic procrastinators, and Ferrari says that this group struggles to get anything done—whether paying bills or cashing checks. One myth about procrastinators asserts that they simply need better time management skills. But Ferrari notes that “telling someone who procrastinates to buy a weekly planner is like telling someone with chronic depression to just cheer up.” The problem isn’t a lack of knowledge, but more core issues like fear of failure or a painful family environment.

We’ve discussed growing in spiritual knowledge, but for some of us, a lack of knowledge isn’t the problem—we’re stuffed with knowledge about God. In our final day of studying how we grow in understanding grace, our passage from 2 Peter offers a template for how grace and knowledge work together in the Christian life.

The two are connected right at the beginning of this letter, as Peter describes grace “in abundance” coming from knowledge of God (v. 2). God has not skimped on making knowledge of Himself accessible (v. 3; cf. Rom. 1:20), and this knowledge also imbues us with His divine power.

Now what will we do with this knowledge, grace, and power? Will we know the promises of God and experience the saving grace of Jesus and then just sputter spiritually? That will make us vulnerable to pride, corruption, and even forgetting about the transforming work of God (vv. 4, 9). In contrast, Peter assures us that we have everything we need for spiritual growth.

Just as grace and knowledge are linked, God’s work and our effort are linked in this text. God has provided us with “everything we need,” so “for this very reason” we “make every effort” (vv. 3, 5). This list begins with faith, the starting point of our journey with Christ. It ends with love, the ultimate expression of our identity as God’s children embodying His character. Growing in the grace and knowledge of God means that we will become more like Him (v. 8).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you need to put your spiritual knowledge into action? Is there something in the list in verses 5 through 7 that doesn’t describe you? Perhaps you need more self-control, perseverance, or brotherly kindness. God has promised to give you the grace; as you spend time in prayer today, ask Him what you need to do—not just need to know—in these areas. Then take concrete steps to practice godliness and love in your daily life, confident that you will be spiritually effective and productive.