Today Daily Devotional

He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ. . . .

— Ephesians 1:9

Have you ever tried tobogganing and been disappointed when it didn’t go smoothly? Maybe your sled didn’t go far or the hill wasn’t as steep as you thought it would be. Maybe you felt like giving up. But then maybe you got a new perspective and realized there might be other options. So you changed the sled, or lightened the load, or tried a different part of the hill. And soon you were gliding swiftly downhill with snow flying in your face. What fun!

Looking at our Scripture for today, we might think it sounds heavy and plodding, or complicated, or even all-too-familiar, and we might be tempted to give up on it. But what if we just need a new perspective and realize we should try it again? Jesus wants us to know how much he cares for us, and he wants to offer us something that is far more than we can imagine.

When we begin to understand how much he loves us and wants us in relationship with him, our perspective changes. We realize that life with him is not just a Sunday or church experience but an everyday adventure that takes us to new places in our faith. We begin to trust differently, to listen and discern differently, and ultimately to experience a new way to live each day. We begin to experience the fullness of God in our journey of faith.

Dear God, help us to change our perspective on how we view you, and help us to realize how much you love us. Fill us with your joy today, and may we be strengthened in how we live out our faith story. Amen.

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

— John 10:10

We stood on the beach in Trinidad seven days after a ­tsunami-like event had hit. It was now quiet, but we were advised not to go into the water yet. Nearby stood a number of food huts, known for their traditional “bake and shark” dishes. The huts had been covered in water just days earlier, but as they were drying out, many of the vendors were beginning to open the windows and doors again. We were fascinated by their resilience and sense of hope. Even though they had faced tough days, there would soon be a new season of customers and sunshine and busyness.

In a way, this reminded me of God’s great promises for us. Even before we felt the breath of new life, when we were still separated from God because of our sin, Jesus, through his love for us, gave us the hope of becoming fully alive. His sacrifice for us gives us the challenge of becoming fully alive in him.

To be fully alive is to be aware that the life God calls us to is dripping with meaning (even if it doesn’t always feel that way). And we are called to work at living out that meaning in a deeper way every day.

Dear God, help us not to live sterile lives but to be useful in your kingdom. Help us to blaze trails and shine forth with the light you have given us through your love. Help us to be fully alive in Christ Jesus. Amen.

He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will. . . .

— Ephesians 1:5

My daughter and son-in-law are in the process of choosing a therapy dog for one of our grandsons. They have been discussing and studying about which breed is best and which size is right. During this time, their other son has been helping to walk the neighbor’s dog to get a sense of how this addition to the family will work. The family is invested together to make a good choice.

Even more important is understanding that God has decided that he wants us to join his family. Does it inspire you that God has been pleased to create us for fellowship with him? God knew that through the sacrifice of Jesus we would become sons and daughters of God. His plan for our lives is to include us in his story. It wasn’t enough that God created us and made us his imagebearers; he also loves us and wants to live in relationship with us.

When our lives reflect the ­realization of all this, we display God’s glory and his love, and something changes in us. We carry ourselves with the knowledge that we belong and are part of God’s family.

What does it mean to be part of this family? It means we are responsible for one another. Because of the love God has given us, we have the ability to live in unity together, sharing in the story that God has indeed chosen us.

Thank you, Father, that you have created us and have chosen us. Help us to see what it means to be in your family and to treat others with the same love you have shown us. Amen.

For this reason I kneel before the Father. . . .

— Ephesians 3:14

A friend who is a chiropractor gave me some wonderful insight about attitude posture. He got it from an encounter with Dr. Plentz. Dr. Plentz said that when you stand in an upright position with your chest up and out, it not only improves your spinal-­biomechanics and reduces stress on your disc joints, but it actually also improves your mood.

Picture an Olympic diver, in position and ready to dive. They are standing in the posture that directly reflects their mindset.

I think Paul is telling us something similar here in Ephesians. Our posture matters. It matters especially in our attitude of prayer. What is our mindset, and how are we positioned? Sometimes our posture in prayer may be about being on our knees, but even more important is the posture of our heart. When we submit our heart and our will to God in faith, we begin to understand our position in Christ. We know we have gone from death to life and are now seated with Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). This means we can walk in a way of life that pleases God. And because of that, we can stand firm against the evil one.

As we align our spiritual mindset with our posture in prayer, we are ready to dive into the possibilities of life-giving conversation with God.

God, thank you for the opportunity to be courageous as we bow to you in prayer, knowing that as we submit to you, we are stepping into all that you have for us. Amen.

In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ. . . .

— Ephesians 3:4

My two oldest grandsons are quite capable of eating an adult-size meal at a fast-food restaurant, but when they are at McDonalds, something changes. There is a choice they have to make: Should they ­order an adult meal or the smaller, kids’ “Happy Meal,” with its mystery toy inside? The draw of the mystery toy usual­ly wins out. I love watching them open—or, I should say, tear into—the package to discover the mystery inside. Their patience is definitely stretched.

The apostle Paul is introducing us to something like that in Ephesians. We are invited to open a mystery package and peer inside to discover what God is sharing with us. There is more for us to know, and the wonder and mystery being offered to all people points to a new season in the great story of God’s love for the world. God’s plan includes everyone. God’s inheritance is for all who believe.

In this letter we discover that we are adopted, chosen, and called to serve shoulder to shoulder with all other followers of Jesus. We discover what it means to be saved by grace, and we are no longer ­strangers to God’s plan. As we reach in for more, we discover the joy of becoming fully alive in Christ.

Lord and God, thank you for the truths laid out in your Word and for the amazing mystery you have revealed to us in Christ. Help us discover that all who believe in Jesus as Savior are part of your family and your inheritance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

— 1 Corinthians 12:27

Since he ascended to heaven, Jesus Christ is no longer with us on earth in the flesh. But the incarnation continues. Jesus is still human, and in his human body he is in heaven. But that’s not all. Jesus is still living and active here on the earth in ­human form, because the church is his body on earth. (The church is not a building but is made up of all of us humans who believe in him.)

The Holy Spirit over­shadowed Mary so that Jesus was conceived in her womb. The same Spirit filled Jesus at his baptism. The same Spirit was poured out on Jesus’ disciples on Pentecost. And the same Spirit lives in us, the church, to this day.

Jesus breathed the Spirit onto his disciples, saying, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” The church is sent, like Jesus, to announce and embody the kingdom of God.

So the church speaks the truth in love—the truth about sin, judgment, and forgiveness. But that’s not all. The church also comes alongside people: to suffer with those who suffer, to weep with those who weep, to rejoice with those who rejoice, to visit those who are sick or in prison, to feed those who are hungry.

When the church is faithful to its calling, Jesus himself becomes visible in our humanity. So the incarnation continues on earth until Jesus returns.

Jesus, fill the church with your Spirit so that to­gether we will reflect the kingdom of God. And may all praise be to you, with the Father and the Spirit. Amen!

Our lowly bodies . . . will be like his glorious body.

— Philippians 3:21

Throughout this month we have focused on the ordinary humanity of Jesus. The point is to take seriously what the Bible says: that Jesus was (and is) fully human, that he became like us in every way, except for sin.

Like us, Jesus had muscle aches and headaches. Like us, Jesus needed food and sleep, and he could be hurt and wounded. Like us, Jesus suffered when loved ones died. And like us, Jesus had an appointment with death. So yes, Jesus was like us in every way in his humanity, which is a wonder.

But here’s something else that is truly wonderful. When Jesus comes again, we will be like him in every way in our new humanity!

The Bible doesn’t give us much to go on. But there is this much at least. To be human is to be in the image of God. But with us the image lost its shine. Until Jesus. Jesus is “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15), “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of God’s being” (Hebrews 1:3). Now, in his humanity, Jesus is a new creation. He is humanity perfected.

And in the end, we will be like him. We won’t be divine. But we will be everything human beings are supposed to be. According to the Bible, that’s a pretty glorious thing.

Jesus, we want to love what you love and do what you would have us do. Because, more than anything, we want to be like you. Amen.

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. . . .

— Revelation 21:2

Heaven. The home of God and the angels. By God’s grace, we hope to go there when we die. But heaven is not where we belong. Earth is. And in the end, we will have resurrected bodies for a new life on the new earth. Because earth and bodies go together.

For now, though, we go to heaven to be with Jesus when we die. We leave our bodies in the ground or maybe in ashes. And we go to heaven without them.

With Jesus it is different, though. After Jesus died and rose again, he went to be with his Father in heaven—and he went there in his body. By his resurrection, Jesus began a new life in a resurrected body. And that’s how he went to heaven. He lifted up his hands to bless his disciples, and in the next moment he was lifted up to heaven—all of him.

Think about that. A complete human being, in heaven, with arms and legs and all the rest. Apparently the resurrection body is suitable for life on earth and in heaven. That’s amazing, and it’s a good thing. Because in the end, heaven and earth will be united. And that’s where our new life will be, in resurrected bodies, with Jesus.

Jesus, we’re in no hurry to die. But we can’t wait to be with you—not just in heaven but on a new earth. What a day that will be! Amen.

He showed them his hands and side.

— John 20:20

Christians believe in the resur­rection of the body. In the end, we will live a new life in resurrected bodies as part of a new creation. Our bodies will be different from our original ones. But they will also have much in common with them.

Believing in our own resurrection is based on the resurrection of Jesus. Resurrection begins with him. New life begins with him.

Resurrection involves more than a dead person coming back to life. In resurrection a dead person begins a new kind of life. And it’s a new kind of life in the body. That’s the key point. The New Testament emphasizes that Jesus rose in his body. He is the same person who died. And now he lives a new life.

After his resurrection, Jesus wants to assure his disciples that it’s him they see, and that he is the same person. So he holds out his hands and uncovers his side to reveal his wounds. Then they know it’s him. It’s the same Jesus, the one and only Jesus, who died to save the world.

There are differences in Jesus’ body from before his death to after his resurrection. But it’s still him. He is still God in the flesh. And one day we will be like him.

Jesus, you gave up so much to become human. And you have remained human ever since. How much you love us! Amen.

They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.

— Luke 24:42-43

On the first Easter, Mary Magdalene wept at the empty tomb of Jesus. She was beside herself with grief. Then suddenly, when she turned around, she saw Jesus standing there. But she didn’t recognize him. She guessed he was the gardener. Not a bad guess, considering where they were and what time of day it was. But when he spoke her name, then she could see. It was Jesus, still Jesus.

Later that day, Jesus joined a pair of despondent disciples walking to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). They had a long conversation with Jesus. But they didn’t recognize him, not even when he was teaching them from the Scriptures. But when he broke bread with them, then they could see. It was Jesus, still Jesus.

Later that evening, Jesus also appeared to his disciples in a locked room (Luke 24:36-49). They weren’t sure it was him. Besides being able to suddenly appear and disappear, he seemed different. “Is this a ghost?” they wondered. But he wasn’t that different. He was still flesh and bones. “Touch me and see,” he said. And apparently he was hungry. So they gave him some fish to eat. Then they could see. It was Jesus, still Jesus.

Sure, he was different. But he was still the same. Sure, he was different. But he was still human. And he still is.

Jesus, when you rose from the dead, you didn’t cast your human nature aside. You may be different, but you are still like us. We can’t wait to be different like you. Amen.