Devotions
Rev Gav
Light Bulb
Ephesians 1.1-10
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love.
He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us.
With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
Reflect
There is something about the ‘now’ and ‘not yet’ in today’s Bible reading.
On the one hand, through the grace of Christ, we are adopted as God’s children and stand redeemed and forgiven, and from a heavenly perspective we are spiritually blessed. However, we also recognise that in the fullness of time all things will be gathered up by God, including us. Therefore, we can say that we are in the world but not of it (see John 17.16).
The job of a Christian is to live out our adoption as God’s children. Our lives are not simply a waiting room for a resurrected heaven but we are to be Jesus to a hurting, bruised, and often broken world.
Your life is unique. Your circumstances are unique and your set of relationship are too. No-one else can tread the path that you tread nor walk your walk for you. You are called to shine like a light as you look both upwards to God for inspiration and guidance, and look outwards to reach others with God’s love. You are a walking, talking, light bulb for Jesus!
Light bulbs come in every conceivable shape, size, and colour. Some have very specific and narrow uses, yet others can be used in a variety of situations. In a same way that a light bulb needs to be connected to a power source, so we need to be connected to God because without God we illuminate nothing! Therefore, each day, let us continue to stay connected to God through prayer and service, asking to be filled with the Spirit, that we might be bringers of God’s illuminating joy and peace.
Pray
Holy God
Help me shine
like a light for you.
May I radiate your
love, joy, and peace
to all I meet today.
In the name of Christ.
and then