Verse of the Day 9/17

Through the Bible - Ecclesiastes 5-6, 2 Corinthians 11:1-15

Good morning,

Yesterday we looked at how we are not to get caught up in the fray, to live our lives on a higher plane.
I was reading in Ephesians 2 this morning in a wonderful passage that we are more familiar with because it says "for by grace are you saved by faith, not of works" while telling us that we are "created in Christ for good works".

Before that, today's verses tell us that God "made us sit together".

"But God" (v.4).....Eph 2:6-raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. NKJV

Have you ever been busy working on something at work, home, or church and felt that you needed a break but just couldn't pull yourself away? Then a coworker, boss, pastor, or spouse comes along and says, "you need to take a break" and offers you to sit down, go to lunch or share a cup of coffee. The task may still be there to be done, but won't you be better prepared if you take some time to sit with the Master. Doing so, you'll be better prepared for the task.

God calls us out by his grace, shows us mercy and let's us in on what He wants us to do, when we pull ourselves (sometimes pry) from the work, the task at hand, and spend some time with Him.

MacArthur comments that "the tense of raised and made indicates that these are immediate and direct results of salvation. Not only is the believer dead to sin and alive to righteousness through Christ's resurrection, but he also enjoys His Lords exaltation and shares in His pre-eminent joy."

I'm reminded of the old song/hymn Jesus Calls Us

Jesus calls us over the tumult
Of our life’s wild, restless, sea;
Day by day His sweet voice soundeth,
Saying, “Christian, follow Me!”
Jesus calls us from the worship
Of the vain world’s golden store,
From each idol that would keep us,
Saying, “Christian, love Me more!”
In our joys and in our sorrows,
Days of toil and hours of ease,
Still He calls, in cares and pleasures,
“Christian, love Me more than these!”
Jesus calls us! By Thy mercies,
Savior, may we hear Thy call,
Give our hearts to Thine obedience,
Serve and love Thee best of all.

If Jesus is calling you to sit down and spend some time with Him today, will you?

In Christ,
Mike

Eph 2:1-10
By Grace Through Faith
2 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
NKJV