Our Daily Bread: For Our Friends

 The Bible in One Year: Isaiah 9-10/Ephesians 3

Today's Reading: Ephesians 3:1-12

This mystery is that through the gospel, the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel. ~Ephesians 3:6

Unlocking a Mystery

When I came home from work one day and saw a pair of lady's high-heel shoes next to the driveway, I was sure I knew whose they were. So I put them in the garage to give to my daughter, Lisa, when she returned to the house to pick up her children. But when I checked with Lisa, I found they didn't belong to her. In fact, no one in our family claimed them, so I put them back where I'd found them. The next day, they were gone. Mysterious.

Did you know that the apostle Paul wrote of a mystery in his letters? But the mystery he described was so much more than some kind of “whodunit.” in Ephesians 3, for example, Paul spoke of a mystery that “was not made known to people in other generations” (v. 5). This mystery is that, while in the past God revealed Himself through Israel, now, through Jesus, Gentiles—those outside of Israel—could be “heirs together with Israel” (v.6).

Think about what this means: all who trust Jesus as Savior can love and serve God together. We can all equally “approach (Him) with freedom and confidence” (v.12). And through the church's unity, the world will see God's wisdom and goodness (v. 10).

Praise God for our salvation. It unlocks for us the mystery of unity as people of any and ALL backgrounds become one in Jesus. ~Dave Branon

Thank you, Jesus, for the unity ALL believers can enjoy in You.

Help us to serve together as equal members of Your body.

Unity in Christ breaks down barriers and builds the church.

When You Are Hated Because Of Your Faith

If the world hates you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. ~John 15:18

The Bible In One Year: Isaiah 11-13/Ephesians 4

Today's Reading: John 15:5-17

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ~John 15:12

For Our Friends

In Emily Brontë's novel, Wuthering Heights, a cantankerous man who often quotes the Bible to criticize others is memorably described as "the wearisome self-righteous Pharisee that ever ransacked a Bible to rake [apply] the promises to himself and fling the curses to his neighbours."

It's a funny line, and it may even bring particular people to mind. But aren't we all a bit like this—prone to condemn others' failures while excusing our own?

In Scripture, some people amazingly did the exact opposite; they were willing to give up God's promises for them and even be cursed if it would save others. Consider Moses, who said he'd rather be blotted out of God's book than see the Israelites unforgiven (Exodus 32:32). Or Paul, who said he'd choose to be "cut off from Christ" if it meant his people would find Him (Romans 9:3).

As self-righteous as we naturally are, Scripture highlights those who love others more than themselves.

Because ultimately such love points to Jesus, "Greater love has no one than this," Jesus taught, than "to lay down one's life for one's friends" (John 15:13). Even before we knew Him, Jesus loved us "to the end" (13:1)--choosing death to give us life.

Now we are invited into the family of God, tolove and be loved like this (15:9-12). And as we pour into others Christ's unimaginable love, the world will catch a glimpse of Him. ~Monica Brands

Lord, thank You for showing us what it means to love. Help us to love like You.

When we love Christ, we love others.

When You Are Seeking Peace

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; ~Isaiah 43:2