Life This Side of Heaven

Stealing was as common in Paul’s day as it is today. Our sinful nature continually looks for what it hopes it can get away with. And it’s easy to overlook all that’s included in the familiar commandment, “You Shall Not Steal.” But Paul’s words here in Ephesians are more than just a warning. They’re also a welcome and constructive reminder of how we may give thanks to God, our Savior, and serve our neighbor.

The apostle Paul must have done some climbing as well as he uses this term, foothold, here in Ephesians. However, he uses the term, not to point out an important help, but a hazard.

Here in Ephesians, Paul wants you to know about a piece of clothing that looks really good on you. It should, it was given to you by God.

There’s no denying that it’s exhilarating to see the high moments in the life of Elijah, but it’s useful to also witness this low point, when the prophet was at his weakest.

Here in Ephesians, Paul describes the real peril that we face as Christians if left untethered in a world of false teachers who purposefully, and deliberately, proclaim deceptive doctrine. What has God given, then, to protect us and safeguard the clear teaching of His Word?

God had promised His hungry people that He would rain down bread from heaven. When the Israelites looked outside in the morning, and saw what God had prepared for them, they asked, "What is it?" Moses then told them what it was and what to do with it. God has given us a miraculous meal in the Lord's Supper. And a good question to ask as, we go up to the altar to receive it is, is also this same question: "What is it?" God tells us what it is and what we are to do with it.

The Israelites may well have felt forsaken by God as they languished in slavery in Egypt. Had He forgotten about them? There are times in our own lives where you and I might feel the same. Under the weight of our problems and the stress we face in this world we may wonder if God even hears our cries. He does. You can be sure of it. And here's where He shows it.

When God promised bread to his hungry people in the desert He responded with the remarkable promise to rain down bread from heaven. But this gift also came with instructions.

Have you ever been completely blind-sided by the unexpected? Have you ever found yourself thinking, “Wow, I didn’t see that coming!” Moses and Aaron may have felt that way when they heard God's response to the people's grumbling shortly after receiving freedom from slavery in Egypt.

Do you ever find yourself longing for the good old days? Do you ever long for a time in your past when it seemed that life was better? It’s fun to think of time which was happy and stress-free – when life was better. But what could explain the grumbling of God’s people in the wilderness?

“If you’ve got your health you’ve got everything.” It's a familiar phrase. There’s no denying the importance of good health, and something our Lord invites us to include in our prayers, but it's not likely a phrase our Savior would use – at least not in the way that we might use it.

There’s a wonderful word that shows up repeatedly in the New Testament. In order to get the correct meaning in English we usually translate it as a phrase. It means, “take courage, take heart.” It was the first thing that Jesus said to the terrified disciples on the Sea of Galilee. But coupled with what follows, it's much more than simply a call stop trembling.

Despite how often we may hear something repeated, not everything is based on fact. However, here’s something that should spark our interest and really fire up our imagination. It’s not based on wishful thinking or science fiction. It’s based in God’s promise.

Over the generations, Hollywood studios have turned to ever-increasing and larger movie formats. The goal is to use widescreen presentation, with highest-resolution imagery, to give audiences the best possible picture. All of this sounds like this might have intrigued the apostle Paul. Listen to his prayer here in Ephesians.

As a part of God’s creation, the rainbow was given to serve as a reminder of a gracious promise. But here’s the interesting part. Although we're blessed and comforted by it, the reminder isn’t actually meant for you and me.

Following the flood, God announced a gracious, one-sided, promise to Noah. Under no obligation to do this, why would He announce that He has bound Himself to this covenant?

By feeding the crowd, Jesus would have calmed people who were both anxious and hungry. He provided them with a meal that they would certainly savor. And it would also put them in mind of God's mercies to them in past. Jesus, the Bread of Life, continues to do these things for you and me this very day.

I'll be the disciple were looking forward to the rest to which Jesus had invited them. Do you ever wonder if they might have groaned in disappointment when they saw the crowd waiting for them on the shore? Were their plans spoiled? Perhaps not. It might be worth a closer look at Jesus' invitation.

“Will the skyscrapers outlast the pyramids?” That was the provocative title of a BBC article a number of years ago. Okay, now to be interesting, let’s add a third category to that question. What about God’s Church? It’s not as frivolous a question as it may sound.

Does God ever feel … far away? Does God seem distant from what’s taking place in your life right now? Does it seem as if He’s not hearing your prayers?

Grafting is an agricultural practice in which a shoot, or branch, is placed on another tree so that they may live together and grow. But can a graft bring life to a tree that is lifeless, to stump that is dead? God answers that question here in Jeremiah and tells us of the extraordinary Branch He promised which now brings life.

I’m sure most of you have seen the stirring pieces of artwork which depict a brave shepherd rescuing a sheep from on a dangerous, rocky precipice or caught in a patch of thorns. But how about a swimming pool?

The Lord bless you. Was God being sarcastic? Was He giving instructions to Moses on how to insult his fellow Israelites? Not hardly! However, it shouldn’t surprise us that the adversary wants us to take this incredible declaration of God's love, which bring such comfort, and turn it into an insult.

Peer pressure can lead us to do things we would never imagine. In order to keep up appearances, we may allow ourselves to incur an awful debt. Herod Antipas soon discovered this. The remarkable thing is that John the Baptizer came to point Herod, and you and me, to the One who came to bring us out from under our debt of sin.

When Herod Antipas heard of Jesus, and the message of repentance He had given to the disciples to proclaim, it sounded eerily familiar. He mistakenly thought that John the Baptizer had been raised from the dead. He must have thought to himself, "This can't be good." After all, he had had John executed. However, here's the One who had come to take away our sins. He, too, would be executed. But for you and me, and all who are called to repentance and faith in Him, news that our Savior has been raised from the dead is ALL good!

If the storm is approaching, an emergency weather radio will announce the sobering advice: “Take shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor of a building if at all possible.” In other words, you don’t want to be outside. You want to be in. In Ephesians, Paul points us the shelter God provides in life's storms and what it means to be "in Christ."

Sometimes it's tempting to think that we “chose” Jesus – like picking a suit off the rack, perhaps even a Savior we alter to fit us. But, when it comes to your salvation, the apostle Paul tells us it’s actually the other way around. And that's remarkably reassuring.

God gave to the prophet Amos a remarkable illustration of the danger Israel's sin had brought upon itself. He showed him a plumb line. A plumb line has the effect of making it obvious when something is uneven and about to fall. God's Law has this useful effect in our lives as well. But God does more that point out the danger. He also points us to the remedy – His Son.

Shake it off, like sand from your flip flops at the beach. It can be discouraging when those with home we share the faith toss it back at us and want nothing to do with it. However, don’t let the hostile reception you may receive, cloud the great joy and privilege you’ve been given.

Early in the Gospel, Mark tells us about a short-term mission trip on which Jesus sent the disciples to share the Good News. And he records the packing list that Jesus gave them. However, you may scratch your head as you read that same packing list in Matthew and Luke. It sounds different. Is it?

Jesus is good with His hands. That’s not something we tend to think about very often, but it’s true.

Mark tells us of a time when He visited His hometown. He had just come off the triumphs of calming the storm and raising Jairus’ daughter from the dead. And His teaching in the synagogue was breathtaking. But there was no celebration, no parade, no honored guests.

When you what God gave Paul to keep him from becoming "conceited" it may paint a strange picture of what he’s really saying. Today, whenever we say that someone is “conceited,” we usually tend to think they’re snotty or obnoxious, the kind of arrogant person you try to avoid at parties. ?But the apostle has even more in mind.

When it comes to sharing God's Word with a sinful, heart-hardened and rebellious world, does it ever feel hopeless – as if God has equipped us with a plastic hammer to drive in iron nails? Take another look at your tool belt.

Paul describes how the churches in Macedonia pleaded urgently for "the privilege" of sharing in the relief to their fellow-redeemed. There's a reason they responded in this manner and why this continues to be true among brothers and sisters in Christ today.

It would hard to imagine the home of Jairus, where his daughter had just died as being the scene of laughter, but the room was soon filled with it.

Jesus’ order for doing things may often seem “off” to us. He doesn’t do things in the order that people would expect. But our healing Savior knows our most urgent need.

In Jeremiah, the prophet describes a time in which God did allow all of this come crashing down to make room for something much better. And there are times when God may allow things to come crashing down around us for this reason as well.

When it comes to waiting in this life it often means how long you can tap your feet before you start going crazy. However, the Hebrew word for “wait” means much more. And it's the reason why Jeremiah says that waiting for the Lord is good.

In Lamentations, Jeremiah recorded some of the most uplifting words of encouragement. However, was the prophet wearing "rose-colored glasses” when he penned these words?

How could God let this happen? Doesn’t Jesus know what I’m going through? Doesn’t He care? The disciples may have felt this way in the midst of the storm. Have you ever been faced with the same questions?

“Never bring a knife to a gunfight.” Have you ever heard that phrase? It’s become one of those familiar and stock phrases used in action movies. Since then, the phrase itself has gone on to become a familiar idiom to highlight the importance of being well-equipped. Paul may have something similar to this in mind here in 2 Corinthians.

“Don’t let your circumstances define who you are.” That’s advice that Paul could well have shared here in 2 Corinthians. Paul’s history is like our own – a true rags to riches story.

In 2 Corinthians, Paul notes, “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” And there is real urgency in his words. It’s a sober reminder that this time of grace won’t be around forever. At the same time, it's also a reminder that there is a tremendous opportunity before us that won't come around again.

As Paul points out, it wasn’t easy being an apostle. At the same time, it's not easy in our culture to be a Christian. When it comes to sharing your Savior with family, friends and neighbors, and all the difficulties that come with it, have you ever been tempted to ask, "Why do I even bother?"

What can you do when everything in your life feels like it’s out of your control? It’s a terrifying experience. We like it when our days roll along without surprises and just as we had planned. We may even take that to be an indication that God must be really pleased with us. If we take enjoying a good life to mean to that God is please with us, then what else can it mean if all of that suddenly changes?

Have you ever heard a sermon on a Sunday morning that uses a vivid illustration that sticks with you long after you’ve heard it? Now you get an idea of why Jesus used so many parables when He taught and preached. In fact He used _a lo_t of parables for this reason.

Our Savior’s reign and rule isn’t outwardly amazing. In fact, it appears quite small and even insignificant. However, its results are magnificent.

So Jesus told them, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.” That doesn’t sound like much, but listen to what He points out next. Like seeds growing on a farm, in this low-key, unostentatious, un-showy way, God Word's Word is planted – and in this way He grows His kingdom.

Sadly, for many, the Christian life is thought of as little more than matter of rules and regulations. Instead, as Paul points out, it’s the free and joy-filled life that comes in grateful response to the salvation God has given to us in His Son.