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Posted on February 2, 2022 by beverlyeash

I received the calling to display God’s wisdom to the unseen world, the principalities, powers and authorities in the heavens. How do I live a life worthy of that calling? Paul didn’t leave us guessing as he plainly writes what it means to be an example of God’s wisdom.

 2Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 

Ephesians 4:2-3

This is a clear directive. It should be easy. It isn’t.

I admit — I fall short too often. I am impatient with the faults I see in others. My fuse is quick to burn; I am not always humble or gentle.

It is my heart, though, to be united in the Spirit; to keep peace as much as it lies within me.

This is why Jesus came. He knew there would be times when we would fail. Perhaps it is my admission of failing, my dependence on His Spirit that is the best example of God’s wisdom to the powers and authorities we can’t see.

Today remember your calling. Take seriously the high honor to be an example to the powers and authorities of God’s wisdom. You are the wisdom of God, together with all those who call themselves children of God; a beautiful display of his mysterious plan!

Happy Hump Day!

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Posted on February 1, 2022 by beverlyeash

Do you read scripture with curiosity? If you find something that doesn’t quite make sense, do you go back and see what it connects with? Or do you read on with a shrug of your shoulders?

Someone once said, “if you find a therefore, see what it is there for.” For instance:

1Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.

Ephesians 4:1

Here is a therefore. What is it there for? What is the calling for which I should lead a worthwhile life? Is it the same for everyone? Is my calling the “thing” I do or is it deeper, more than my individual purpose?

Looking quickly into Paul’s previous remarks, some clarity can be gained. I emphasized yesterday that Jews and Gentiles share the same inheritance because they both believe the Good News. There is another nugget nestled in Paul’s words that bears mining out.

10God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 3:10-11

What is the calling we received from God? We are to be examples of God’s wisdom! To whom? Unseen rulers and authorities in the heavens! Let me put this into common language for you?

All of heaven — unseen rulers and authorities, good and evil — are watching those who believe the Good News —THE CHURCH — to see how we get along. We are an example of God’s wisdom when we live in unity with one another.

I ask myself, “How am I doing? Am I showing off God’s wisdom?”

How well are you doing? Does your life display God’s wisdom? Are you an example of the love, acceptance, unity and peace that God had in mind when he brought all people together under one head, Jesus?

It is time to link arms with all those who are called by God’s name and march into battle together. Let’s not bite and devour one another. If God said it was a good idea to bring us all together equally under one name, then it is. Now let’s live like we believe it.

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Posted on January 31, 2022 by beverlyeash

I love to talk. Not just chatter or meaningless words, but talk to help bring understanding to something that might be hazy or unclear in some way. It has always been my passion to help others understand by breaking down difficult ideas into manageable, bite-size bits and present them in a way that is grasped easily and with the effect of a change in some way.

It is in the midst of a sentence that I sometimes realize I might be making an assumption about what my listener knows. So, I have to take a detour to fill in the details. As I read Ephesians 3, I see Paul does the same thing.

1When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles . . . 2assuming, by the way, that you know . . . 14When I think of all this . . .

Ephesians 3:1-2, 14

Paul begins telling the believers what he does when he “thinks of all this,” but then pauses his thought to fill in what he assumed they knew and then picks up the thought again in verse 14.

Reading with curiosity as my guide, I wonder what is so important for his reader to know that he takes 11 verses to explain. It bears looking into as it provides deeper meaning into what he does when “he thinks of all this.”

Paul, in verses 2-13, explains again the mystery of God made known to us in Christ and that he is an ambassador to the Gentiles to make this secret known. Here is the secret or mystery:

6And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 3:6

This may not seem like anything that warrants so much further explanation. But to this group of mostly Gentile believers, it is a big deal. It bears repeating.

Perhaps you are new to talk of Jesus and God’s gift to you through him. You wonder if this good news is for you. Do you qualify to be included in the family? Will you have full rights? Are there charter members or levels of membership?

In the family of God, no one is grandfathered in meaning that we all have access to the blessings in the same way: believing the Good News! There are no charter members or premium benefits — all receive the inheritance!

I can hear the older siblings among us beginning to raise a voice of dissent. “Wait!” they say, “surely we enjoy benefits that those who are just joining don’t.”

Yes. As soon as we join the family, we receive the benefits of family — knowing we belong, we are loved, secure, understood, purposeful and significant. The longer we are united with God through Jesus, the more deeply and profoundly these truths change who we are as individuals. The more we are changed, the greater the connection with God grows. This is the benefit we enjoy as charter members.

What we don’t have over someone who just comes to Christ is special access. All who come to Christ are declared righteous, holy and blameless. There is nothing to do to earn it, nothing to do to keep it.

So Paul says, “when I think of all this…”

14When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Ephesians 3:14-19

Now that’s a really big deal! If you skimmed through those verses, pause and read them again. I want to assure you that I am praying these things for you. I pray that you will be strengthened, empowered and made complete in the love of Jesus that comes from God. If you are just joining the family, welcome! I am glad you are here!

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Posted on January 28, 2022 by beverlyeash

8God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Ephesians 2:8-10

When I was teaching school, there were some questions that came up every year, with every class of students. One in particular regarded good deeds. Where does good behavior come in to play for a believer in Jesus? If our good deeds don’t save us, why do I worry about my behavior?

The question always reminded me of Paul’s letter to Rome where he addresses the same question:

20God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. 1Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2Of course not! 

Romans 5:20; 6:1-2

From Paul’s letter to Ephesus, I clearly see:

. . . . my salvation is a gift from God.

It is not…

. . . . a reward for good behavior.

If my good behavior doesn’t save me,

my bad behavior is not what condemns me.

But…

We are created with the hardwiring to add beauty, value and purpose to the places we inhabit.

These are the good things God created in advance for us to do!

The BEST thing we can do, according to Jesus, is believe in him!

28They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”29Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”

John 6:28-29

My prayer is that this sets you up for a wonderful weekend filled with intentional good deeds that don’t save you, but are a fulfillment of all God planned for you from long ago!

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Posted on January 27, 2022 by beverlyeash

3When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you set in place—4what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?

Psalm 8:3-4

Have you ever looked at the night sky with the stars shining brightly and the moon glowing and wondered why God ever bothered with humans? Or perhaps you took time to watch the sun set against the horizon, splashing colors of yellow, orange, pink and red across the sky and felt awed by the stunning beauty of creation, suddenly feeling small and insignificant against the backdrop of nature.

The psalmist surely did. He even asks what perhaps I wonder — “what are humans that you care for them?” Paul hints at the same question in his letter to Ephesus, but explains clearly the “why” behind God’s attention to humanity.

4But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. 8God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Ephesians 2:4-10

Why does God pay attention to humans? Because he loves us, plain and simple! So while we are busy pointing to the wonders of creation in the night sky, God is pointing back to us as incredible examples of his grace, kindness and love.

God looks on us and declares us his crowning achievement, his masterpiece of all creation. Take a moment to let that sink in today! You are his work of art, his last and best work of creation, you are the one he points to and says, “Look what I did!”

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Posted on January 26, 2022 by beverlyeash

Intimacy…Known…Chosen… Set apart…Desired

These words all reflect the tenor of Paul’s opening sentence to the believers in Ephesus. As I read all the ways I am known by God, the lengths he went to in order to guarantee a relationship with me, my heart is stirred.

The best gifts I ever received all have one thing in common — forethought. Gifts at expected times are not really my thing. If you don’t give me a birthday gift I won’t notice. Dave and I rarely exchange gifts on birthdays, Christmas or anniversaries. That might seem like an atrocity to some, but for us, it isn’t the way we show love. But there have been a few times in my life when I received a gift that stopped me in my tracks.

When Dave and I were dating, he would sometimes show up at my apartment in Ohio with a gift in hand. I remember two of those gifts like it was yesterday. One was a white mug and on the inside there was a heart shaped balloon and it said “love you” above it. The other was a part of a collection of figurines called Country Cousins. It was a little boy and girl in farmer clothes sitting on a porch swing with a chalkboard behind them. On the chalkboard in childish handwriting it said, “I love you ’cause you’re my best friend.”

It wasn’t the gifts that spoke to my heart. It was the time and thought it took to go and find the gift, choose something with an appropriate message, buy it and bring to me. The messages were simple, heartfelt and sincere. This is the message of Ephesians to us today. Listen to Paul’s words…

4Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 

Ephesians 1:4-5

Read the verses again. Note the timing of God’s decisions. Before he made the world, decided in advance! What did he want? For you and I to be holy and without fault (without blame)! Why? Because he wanted to! It gave him great pleasure!

You are not an after thought, an obligation or someone brought in to satisfy some grandiose need for affirmation. You are dearly loved, sought after, chosen! Before you ever were, before you could do right or wrong, before you knew your left from your right — you were chosen, adopted and loved! Go ahead. Do a little happy dance! Don’t let anyone take that away from you today!

Happy Hump Day!

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Posted on January 25, 2022 by beverlyeash

I have one more thought before I fold up Paul’s letter to the churches of Galatia and open his letter to the church in Ephesus. There is an admonition he gives to these dear people at the close of his letter that has troubled me greatly in the past.

1Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path.

Galatians 6:1

Perhaps it is my own misunderstanding, but these words were weaponized in my past. They were used to develop camps of us – those who are godly – and them – those who are overcome by sin. We, the godly, are to point out the failings of them, the sinners, to bring them back to the right path. Then Paul goes on to say this:

2Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. . . .5For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

Galatians 1:2, 5

So am I responsible to help carry the other person’s burden or am I only responsible for my own life?

Today it seems an unlikely understanding of Paul’s words. But it wasn’t until I tore apart the verse in my first Greek classes in college that I finally understood Paul’s concern.

I would like to take the liberty to paraphrase what Paul said. I am putting this in my own words, staying true to what I believe Paul was saying without any attempt to directly translate the original language.

Hey friends, if some sin takes a fellow believer by surprise, help him or her out. Don’t just stand by and watch them destroyed. Steady them, hold them up, walk beside them. But remember your own ability to fall and be careful that pride or arrogance doesn’t trip you up. It could just as easily be you taken by surprise and caught in sin’s trap. Be ready to stake yourself to your brother or sister until they can walk on their own. It is what Jesus would do.

Today, if you find yourself taken by surprise unable to wrestle free from the trap of sin, tell someone. Don’t try to go it alone. That is what the body of Christ is intended to provide.

Today, if you see someone struggling under the heavy weight of sin, stake yourself to them and don’t let go until their strength returns. It is what Jesus would do.

Be Jesus to someone today!

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Posted on January 24, 2022 by beverlyeash

Have you ever flown with a child? It is amazing how much one must carry on for the wellbeing of the child, especially when she is an infant. As she gets older, she is able to take more responsibility for herself and the things she brings with her. It might be a backpack with snacks, books, games or comfort blankets to help keep her occupied during the flight. As that child gets older, she assumes more and more responsibility for what she brings with her. Eventually, she will fly alone and the load she carries will be hers alone. She can’t pass it off to mom or dad; it is her responsibility.

As I finish reading Paul’s letter to the churches in Galatia, I am challenged by his closing remarks. Wanting to neatly summarize his final comments into a one concise package, I hear the word RESPONSIBILITY.

I am responsible to others. 2Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

I am responsible for myself. 5For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

I am responsible for what I reap because it is a byproduct of what I sow. 7. . . You will always harvest what you plant.

I am responsible for where I put my focus. 14As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. 15It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. 16May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God.

In Christ, I am transformed into a new creation. The old is gone; the new is come!

Where are you struggling to take responsibility? Bring it before the loving gaze of Jesus and ask him for wisdom to discern and courage to follow through.

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Posted on January 21, 2022 by beverlyeash

Sychronized movement captivates me. Whether it is perfectly timed dancing or sychronized swimming, the essential nature of being completely in tune with the other participants fascinates me. Perhaps my fascination is because I am not overly coordinated in that area. There is another arena where absolute sychronization creates a beautiful dance to behold. Paul says it like this:

25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Galatians 5:25

Keeping in step with the Spirit – what does that mean?

The emphasis of Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia revolves around what the people put their trust in, their hope for right standing with God. Paul brought the good news to them that it was Jesus’ death on the cross that made a way for them to be right with God — to be declared righteous.

Then he shifts a bit to talk about living according to the Spirit. When we walk in step, in sychronization with the Spirit, we won’t do what the flesh wants. That really is the crux of the matter, isn’t it?! Walking in step with the Spirit.

Changed behavior that comes from a changed heart really is the evidence of a right relationship with God. The problem is a changed heart is difficult to monitor so we turn to what we can monitor — outward piety. Paul knew that outward displays of religious behavior didn’t mean there was an inward change of heart. He puts it very simply, boiling it down to one command.

13You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Galatians 5:13-14

When I keep in step with the Spirit, I am truly free. I display the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. As I practice listening to and keeping in step with the Spirit, my life changes. More often I choose what the Spirit desires rather than what my flesh desires. This is what it means to keep in step with the Spirit.

My takeaway for today is this: I am in right standing with God because I believe that Jesus is God’s son and he died on the cross for my sins. Period. The Holy Spirit directs my life and enables me to live in freedom; the freedom to love and serve others well.

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Posted on January 20, 2022 by beverlyeash

I moved away from home when I was eighteen years old. I first attended Bible college and then volunteered for a year working for a mission agency. Immediately following my year of service, I was married. We located in the midwest and I never moved back to my childhood home to live for longer than a few weeks.

There is a sense in which I felt a bit orphaned at times. I still enjoyed loving parents who were attentive to my needs and often came to assist me along the way. But I didn’t have the day-to-day interaction with them like I observed in many families around me. At times, I deeply longed to be able to go to Mom and Dad’s after church for Sunday dinner or to play games or hang out at Grandma and Grandpa’s with my kids. Alas, my choices took me away. While there were many gracious people along the way who loved and cared for us, we weren’t part of the family. We were always extras.

I think that’s what draws me in to Paul’s description of our adoption as God’s children in Galatians 4.

4But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 7Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

Galatians 4:4-7

There is a movie from the 90’s entitled “It Takes Two.” It is the story of two girls, one very rich and the other very poor. The poor girl is in an orphanage waiting to be adopted when she meets her doppelganger in the rich girl. The story is their misadventure of swapping places. At one point a family, the Butkisses, adopt children to work in their junk yard. The family has natural born children and they live, eat and work separately from the adopted children. The children from the orphanage are brought in to be slaves to the family.

It isn’t so in the family of God. When the time was just right, God sent Jesus to buy our freedom, to choose us from the orphanage of slavery. Then he adopted us as his very own children, with full rights just like a natural born child. He gave us a place at the table, our own room with a comfy bed and then he did something really incredible! He put us in the will. That’s right! We became heirs just like a natural born child.

There were many people along the way who loved Dave and I, even inviting us to family times. But NO ONE changed their will for us. No one included us as heirs with their natural born children.

Think on that amazing fact today! You aren’t redeemed to work as a slave. You haven’t been brought into the family to do the dirty work that no one else wants to do. You are adopted as a full born child! Your inheritance is guaranteed. You have a place at the table. Your name is in the Christmas drawing.

That’s a lot for one day, isn’t it?! Do a little happy dance while you remind yourself that you’re loved, redeemed and a part of the Family!

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