email : Webview : Duane Brooks - Every Day with Jesus

May 15, 2018

Ephesians 1:13-14

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

New International Version (NIV)

   After six years in a new parsonage near Axtell and Mart, Texas, Melanie and I bought our first home in Cedar Park. When we signed the contract, we put down our earnest money and waited for the builders to build. My family had always been earnest about money, but I had never heard of earnest money before that time. When we paid it we showed we were earnest, serious about buying that home.

                In his beautiful hymnic sentence of twelve verses, Paul reminds us of what God has done for us with the three-fold refrain, “to the praise of his glorious grace.” Most of us understand that the Father so loved us he sent his Son and that the Son so loved us that he gave his life on the cross. The Holy Spirit though remains an “unexplored continent” of the Christian faith. Extremes range from ignoring the Spirit to seeking and showing strange manifestations of his presence.

                Paul tells us the Holy Spirit sealed us when we heard and believed. The Holy Spirit is God come down from heaven, God always near, God right here. His presence in our lives reminds us that God is earnest, serious about redeeming us as his possession. One of my best friends loves to say, “The Holy Spirit is my best friend . . .” Mine, too. Yours? He wants to be today. To the praise of his glorious grace!

Pray with me:

Sweet Holy Spirit, sweet heavenly dove, stay right here with us, filling us with your love. And for these blessings, we lift our hearts in praise! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

This year we focus our Every Day with Jesus readings on Jesus’ story. With references to Tallowood's Read Through the Bible in 2018 daily reading plan, let's focus our undivided attention on Jesus and follow where he lead. He will not fail. Neither will we!
Joyfully,
Duane

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