It seems that we might have more freedom this December. Who knows? We might even have Christmas parties! But as followers of Christ, we may have mixed feelings. As we see our friends enjoying themselves, we might ask, “Can we do the same things as they do?” We know there are some things that we must not do as devoted followers of Jesus. And maybe this is the reason why some of us may not be very happy this Christmas. But is there anything to rejoice about this season as followers of Jesus?

Our reconciliation with God as well as our elevation in Christ are wonderful blessings that we have received from God. They are gifts of His grace. We can only receive them by faith. But these are not the only gifts of grace that God wants to give to us. There are two more spiritual gifts: transformation through the Holy Spirit and restoration together with the rest of creation. Transformation is particularly important to understand because it is the ongoing aspect of our salvation in Christ. God wants to transform us but only through our cooperation.

Many Christians today are easily satisfied with a kind of faith that is less than what the word of God says they can actually experience. They are willing to settle for something that falls short of what is genuine and true. They reason, "This is as good as it gets. There's nothing more to desire or expect." What they don't understand is that there is more, if they are willing to trust God through His Holy Spirit.

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We must desire more...

1. A more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ (vv.14-17a)

2. A more powerful experience of His loving presence (vv.17b-19)

We must expect more... (vv.20-21)

Main Idea: The key to spiritual vitality is to desire and expect more in our relationship with God. (Ang susi sa espirituwal na kalusugan ay ang maghangad at umasa nang higit pa sa ating relasyon sa Diyos.)

8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. (Ephesians 3:8-13)

God's grace is both a calling to salvation as well as to ministry. All Christians are called to serve God in some kind of ministry. But what is the primary goal of our ministry? What exactly are we supposed to be doing? It is not to be satisfied, happy, or successful. The primary goal of our ministry is to communicate the Gospel clearly, intentionally, and, if necessary, sacrificially.

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Check out our guide for Small Groups here 👉 https://rlcc.ph/devotional/

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How are we to communicate the Gospel today?

Three ways...

1. We must communicate it clearly (vv.8-9).

2. We must communicate it intentionally (vv.10-11).

3. We must communicate it sacrificially (vv.12-13).

Main Idea: "Our primary goal must be to communicate the Gospel clearly, intentionally, and sacrificially." (“Dapat ipahayag natin ang Mabuting Balita nang malinaw, may layunin, at may sakripisyo.”)

Salvation is by grace. We don't deserve it. It is given to us as a gift through our faith in Jesus Christ. We should be thankful for it. But many of us who have received this grace does not see it as a call or a responsibility coming from God. We only see it as a gift or a privilege. But grace calls us to serve also. Although Paul is called to a particular kind of ministry because of God's grace, we are also called to be stewards and servants of God's grace in its various forms today.

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Check out our guide for Small Groups here 👉 https://rlcc.ph/devotional/

For more information about RLCC, visit 👉 https://solo.to/rlccphil

Do you want to grow in your personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Click this link 👉 https://rlcc.ph/join-us/.

Main Idea: God's grace is a calling not just to salvation but also to ministry. (“Ang kagandahang-loob ng Diyos ay isang tawag hindi lang para sa kaligtasan kundi para sa paglilingkod rin.”)

Two ideas we have to understand about grace apart from salvation:

1. We are called to be a Steward (v.1-3)

2. We are called to be a Servant (v.4-7)

During this time of the pandemic, some Christians have decided not to be connected with God's people anymore. They imagine that it's not essential as far as their relationship with God is concerned. Others think that the church is just a physical building. It is enough to attend worship services even without any real connection with the people of God. What they don't understand is that it's crucial to be in community with God's people always. This is the reason behind our salvation.

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Check out our guide for Small Groups here 👉 https://rlcc.ph/devotional/

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If you have been to the malls recently, you will notice many people, even children, walking around. They all seem to be very happy and excited to be there. As we hear more and more about the number of cases going down, many of us are looking forward to doing the normal things that we used to do prior to the pandemic. Naturally, we are all very happy. Finally. But something tells us this may not be over yet. The threat of variants and mutations is still hanging over us. So, how do we celebrate Christmas now?

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. (Ephesians 2:14-18)

People talk a lot about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This is important. But sometimes people have a different understanding of this truth. They imagine that being saved is only a personal matter between himself/herself and God. Having a personal relationship with others in the Christian community is optional. In fact, some people believe that they can practice their Christianity without being actively involved in a Christian community. This is contrary to the Gospel. We are saved by God to become new humanity in a Christian community.

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We are saved by God to become new humanity in a Christian community. (Tayo ay inilagtas ng Diyos para maging bagong sangkatauhan sa loob ng isang Cristianong samahan.)

How is God creating a new humanity in a Christian community?

Two ways...

1. By abolishing the basis of our hostility toward each other.

2. By establishing the basis of our true unity with each other.

11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:11-13)

Sometimes we think of being a Christian as just having a lot of dos and don'ts. In other words, it's all about rules and obligations. Maybe that's the reason why many of us experience joylessness in our Christian lives. We feel that we are missing out on a lot of good things in life. But the truth is that being a Christian is all about privileges that we now have through our union with Jesus Christ. By faith, we have received these privileges now, and we need to embrace them with thanksgiving in our hearts.

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Being a Christian is an awesome privilege that we must never forget.

What must we do to not forget?

1. Remember our former liability.

2. Remember our current accessibility.

Ang pagiging Cristiano ay isang dakilang pibilehiyo na hindi natin dapat kalimutan.

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —— and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God —— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

God changed our spiritual identity even before we can do anything for Him. He took the initiative to elevate us with Christ and to sit us with Him in the heavenly realms —— while we were yet sinners —— so that we will have a new identity as God's children, pure and holy in His sight. But why? If we don't understand this, our enemy, Satan, will always try to put doubts in our hearts concerning our true identity. This is the major cause of our defeat.

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Why did God save us by giving us a new identity (i.e, elevating us with Christ) even before we can do anything for Him?

Three reasons: So that...

1. Our faith will depend on God's grace.

2. Our focus will be on God's work.

3. Our future will be aligned with God's purpose.

God gave us a new identity to guarantee our victory.

Binigyan tayo ng Diyos ng bagong pagkakakilanlan para siguraduhin ang ating katagumpayan.