Gleanings for July 9

Representatives of God

Romans 8:23 NLB: “And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. We, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as His children.”

You were encouraged in a recent devotional to read further in the first chapter of the Book of Ephesians. As I read it for myself, I decided Verses 15 – 23 NLB should be the center of Grandma’s Gleanings today. Make it a prayer for yourself and for all those who are special people in your life.

Ephesians 1: 15 – 23: “Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for Christians everywhere, I have never stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.

“I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future He has promised to those He called. I want you to realize what a RICH AND GLORIOUS INHERITANCE HE has given to His people.

“I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of His power for us who believe Him. This is THE SAME MIGHTY POWER THAT RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD and seated Him in the place of honor at God’s right Hand in the heavenly realms.

“Now He is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else in this world or in the world to come. And God has put ALL THINGS UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST and HE GAVE HIM authority for the benefit of the church. And the church is HIS BODY; it is filled by Christ WHO FILLS EVERYTHING with HIS PRESENCE.”

Let the above scripture become one you turn to many times during your private time of devotion. Let the truth it contains go deep into your spirit. A footnote in my Bible says:

“The primary thrust of this letter is to show the church as the PRESENT, PHYSICAL PRESENCE of Christ. The church is to be filled with Him by the Holy Spirit, and assigned by the Lord Jesus to represent HIM TO SOCIETY to minister HIS LIFE, LOVE and POWER.”

This chapter in Ephesians tells us that we ARE the BODY OF CHRIST, so we are also expected to be GOOD REPRESENTATIVES of WHO HE IS, as we live and move in our daily activity. This challenge is not too great when we remember:

THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH!!