“And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church.” – Ephesians 1:22 Scripture reading: Ephesians 5:22-33 In Ephesians 5, we have a beautiful comparison which sets the stage for Christian marriage. In that passage, the husband-and-wife relationship is mirrored with the church’s relationship to Jesus […]| Reformed Perspective
“…that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” – Ephesians 1:20-21 […]| Reformed Perspective
“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him.” – Ephesians 1:16-17 Scripture reading: Psalm 30:1-12 If you are a student of the […]| Reformed Perspective
“…were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” – Ephesians 1:13b-14 Scripture reading: 2 Corinthians 1:12-24 When a sinner believes in Jesus Christ, they are given the promised Holy Spirit. Throughout the ministry of our Lord, Jesus […]| Reformed Perspective
“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” – Ephesians 1:13 Scripture reading: Romans 10: 5-17 Each Lord’s Day we have the privilege to sit under the preaching of the Word. God has ordained that the […]| Reformed Perspective
“In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.” – Ephesians 1:11 Scripture reading: Psalm 16:1-11 When the will of a wealthy man or woman is read, the family might gather around to see what has been […]| Reformed Perspective
“… as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” – Ephesians 1:10 Scripture reading: Revelation 21:1-27 Ephesians 1 takes us from the beginning of the world with our election in verse 4, all the way to the consummation of all things in […]| Reformed Perspective
“He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.” – Ephesians 1:5 Scripture reading: Romans 8:1-17 One of the most beautiful pictures of God’s love is the teaching of adoption. The Heidelberg Catechism teaches in Answer 33 that we are God’s children by adoption. This […]| Reformed Perspective
“…that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love…” – Ephesians 1:4b Scripture reading: 2 Peter 2:1-12 Sometimes in professional sports you hear about role players who are on a team for a particular purpose. In baseball, it might be a closing pitcher or pinch hitter. In hockey it might be a strong […]| Reformed Perspective
“…even as he chose us in Him before the foundation of the world….” – Ephesians 1:4 Scripture reading: Romans 8:29-39 Ephesians 1:3-14 is the longest sentence in the Bible. In our English translations it adds some punctuation to break it up, but in the original, it is one sentence. Try diagramming that sentence. In that […]| Reformed Perspective
Our devotions this month will be taken from Ephesians 1-3. The book of Ephesians can easily be separated into two parts. The first half, which we will be studying together this month, deals with the comfort and peace we receive from being found in Christ. This deals with the teaching of salvation. The second half […]| Reformed Perspective
“And it came to pass, after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac. And Isaac dwelt at Beer Lahai Roi.” – Genesis 25:11 Scripture reading: Genesis 25:1-11 Our reading today may not seem exciting. Abraham dies, and he’s buried. That’s it. What are we to take from this? One thing we must […]| Reformed Perspective
“Then they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” And she said, “I will go.”” – Genesis 24:58 Scripture reading: Genesis 24: 1-67 For our youth, conversations often revolve around a couple of key concerns: dating, marriage, and guidance. In this, the longest chapter in Genesis, both come into focus: […]| Reformed Perspective
“So the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field and the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, which were within all the surrounding borders, were deeded to Abraham as a possession.” – Genesis 23:17,18a Scripture reading: Genesis 23: 1-20 This chapter […]| Reformed Perspective
“And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”” – Genesis 22:14 Scripture reading: Genesis 22:1-19 You may have heard the Bible song, “Jehovah Jireh, my provider, His grace is sufficient for me.” The Hebrew name Jehovah Jireh […]| Reformed Perspective
--- “You disclose Yourself to me in a variety of ways—words of Scripture just when I need them, helpful words spoken through other people, ‘coincidences’ orchestrated … The post 4 Ways Nature Can Help You Connect with God appeared first on Jesus Calling.| Jesus Calling
“Help me to stay mindful of You as I go step by step through this day. Your Presence with me is a precious promise— and a comforting protection.” – Jesus Listens, October 29th “Fear not, for I am with you.” —Isaiah 41:10 When my husband George felt a strong call to move our family to […]| Jesus Calling
“And Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.”” – Genesis 21:6 Scripture reading: Genesis 21:1-7 When was the last time you really, really laughed? As Christians, we have every reason to laugh with deep seated joy because of what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. […]| Reformed Perspective
“So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, “Get up, get out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking.” – Genesis 19:14 Scripture reading: Genesis 19:12-38 Lot made it out of Sodom alive—but barely. He […]| Reformed Perspective
“Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” – Genesis 18:25 Scripture reading: Genesis 18:16-33 What becomes very clear from […]| Reformed Perspective
“Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD.” – Genesis 18:22 Scripture reading: Genesis 18:16-33 In our passage today, we see that God is moving toward Sodom. We already know Abraham’s nephew Lot lives there with his family, and that Sodom is “an exceedingly wicked […]| Reformed Perspective
“For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” – Genesis 18:19 Scripture reading: Genesis 18:16-33 Do you ever wonder […]| Reformed Perspective
“Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” – Genesis 18:14 Scripture reading: Genesis 18:1-15 One of the main purposes of God’s visit with Abraham and Sarah was to remind and assure them that the […]| Reformed Perspective
“My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant.” – Genesis 18:3 Scripture reading: Genesis 18:1-15 Our passage today records a very special meeting with very special guests. God shows up. Along with two angelic visitors, He comes to meet with Abraham, His friend. Without knowing […]| Reformed Perspective
“If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life…” – 1 John 5:16 Scripture reading: 1 John 5:16-17; James 5:13-18 While there are a number of difficult issues to deal with in a passage like this, we will be focusing on […]| Reformed Perspective
“I realize that You guide each of Your children individually. That’s why listening to You— through Scripture and prayer— is essential for me to find the way forward. Please prepare me for the day that awaits me and point me in the right direction.” – Jesus Listens, October 22nd For the past twenty years, I’ve […]| Jesus Calling
“When I’m feeling weighed down by things I regret, it’s as if I’m dragging my failures around like heavy chains clamped to my ankles. At such times, I find it beneficial to picture You coming to my rescue and cutting off those chains. You came to set Your followers free, and I want to walk […]| Jesus Calling
“Quietness and trust enhance your awareness of My Presence with you. Do not despise these simple ways of serving Me. Although you feel cut off from the activity of the world, your quiet trust makes a powerful statement in spiritual realms. My Strength and Power show themselves most effective in weakness.” – Jesus Calling, February […]| Jesus Calling
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy […]| Reformed Perspective
“I know there is a time for planning, but it’s definitely not all the time—or even most of it. I really want to live in the present, where Your beautiful Presence awaits me continually.” – Jesus Listens, September 27th We have such a hard time living in the moment. We’re so quick to move on […]| Jesus Calling
“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” – Hebrews 4:14 Scripture reading: Hebrews 4:14-5:10 Jesus, unlike Aaron and every other Old Testament high priest, who was himself subject to weakness and sin (Heb 5:2), was nevertheless […]| Reformed Perspective
--- “I come to You, feeling weak and weary, seeking to rest in Your refreshing Presence. I know that You are always by my side, but … The post When You Feel Forgotten in Motherhood appeared first on Jesus Calling.| Jesus Calling
“I’ve discovered that the best way to make friends with my troubles is to thank You for them. This counterintuitive act opens my mind to … The post Being Thankful for the Hard & Holy appeared first on Jesus Calling.| Jesus Calling
“Having a seeking heart opens me up to receive more of You. The Bible gives me clear instructions: Keep on asking and it will be … The post Trust Him with Open and Closed Doors appeared first on Jesus Calling.| Jesus Calling
“Only in You can I find lasting Joy. There are many sources of happiness in this world, and sometimes they spill over into Joy— especially … The post When Love Spills Over appeared first on Jesus Calling.| Jesus Calling
“Whenever I’m feeling inadequate or overwhelmed, I love being able to lean on You, Lord. You remind me that I am more than adequate when … The post The Art of Unplugging appeared first on Jesus Calling.| Jesus Calling
“Today, the only things that seem endless are my problems and my pain. Yet I know You are here—tenderly present—ready to help me get safely … The post Wholehearted Love Amid Unbearable Pain appeared first on Jesus Calling.| Jesus Calling