When we forgive, we are actively imitating God; and our forgiveness becomes a living reflection of His character. What an incredible reality! Christ gave Himself up for us not just so our Father could forgive us, but so that we could forgive and be forgiven by one another.

Neuroplasticity is the brain's incredible ability to rewire and form new neural pathways in response to information, experience, and repeated thought patterns. The "Renewed Mind" is a mind rewired by a deep commitment to rightly understand, meditate on, and submit to God's Word.

We are to pursue lifestyles worthy of our call to salvation and to the church family. Humble, gentle, and patient, we stick with one another in love and make every effort to preserve the unity that comes from the Holy Spirit.

A mystery is a decision of God which He keeps secret until the time He chooses to reveal it. In this case, before the foundation of the world, God determined to unify Gentiles and Jews through Christ and bring them together as one family in the Church.

Brought Near: Ephesians 2:11-22

Though we willingly walked in the way of this ungodly world doing what the devil and we ourselves wanted, God extends His mercy toward us because He loves us and knows we are helplessly entrapped in our own snare.

We, too, like Elisha's servant and the believers of Ephesus struggle to see spiritual realities. Like Elisha, Paul prays God the Father open the eyes of the Ephesians that they may see, understand and be transformed by the spiritual realities of which they are now part. So, also, ought we to pray for ourselves and one another.

Contrary to the impulsive, unpredictable and self-serving ways of the gods, the Ephesians are coming to know that the true God is loving, gracious and centered on His human family to reconcile and restore them through Jesus to the warm, loving, personal relationship for which He created them in the beginning.

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to Jewish and Gentile believers who were members of house churches located in and around the ancient city of Ephesus.

Love does not insist on its own way. Love is not irritable or resentful. Love bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things.