"He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will." — Ephesians 1:5   The Bible tells us that when we are saved, we immediately become part of the family of God. This adoption into God's family is not something we earn; it happens instantly upon salvation. As children of the King, we receive the same rights as Jesus Himself. In th...  Read More

"For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him." — Ephesians 1:4   Have you ever wondered about your purpose in life? According to Paul, if you are "in Christ," you have been set apart for a specific purpose: to reflect the holiness and goodness of God to the world around you.  This concept of being "set apart" is deeply significant. Paul t...  Read More

"Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ." — Ephesians 1:3   When you think about being blessed, what comes to mind? Many of us might envision receiving something unexpected or wonderful, something that makes us feel special or lucky. But what if we misunderstand what it truly means to be blessed by God? Ofte...  Read More

"Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ." - Ephesians 1:3    Being blessed is receiving something you didn’t earn. Think about your paycheck. When you receive it after two weeks of work, do you ever exclaim, “Wow! This is such a blessing!”? Probably not. That paycheck is compensation for your labor, somethin...  Read More

"Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ." - Ephesians 1:3    The Apostle Paul provides a powerful and concise answer to our questions about our identity: if you have been saved, your identity has been transformed. You are now in Christ. Paul also tells us that as followers of Jesus, we are considered saints ...  Read More

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." - John 8:12   A young boy once toured Europe with his parents, visiting many of the great old cathedrals. He was mesmerized by the massive stained-glass portraits of the disciples and other saints. Upon returning home, his Sunday School teacher asked him about his trip. Reflecting on his...  Read More

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." - Ephesians 1:2    When Paul used the phrase "grace and peace" in his letters, it wasn't just a cliché to sound spiritual. This phrase carried deep significance and helped Paul connect with various subgroups in the first-century church. It's hard to grasp its full meaning in English, but in Paul’s context, it bridged cultural ...  Read More

"Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called." - Ephesians 4:1    What does it mean to "walk in a manner worthy of your calling"? It means living a fully surrendered life to Jesus Christ. God doesn't just call us away from sin; He calls us to pursue Him. Repentance involves a change of direction where we turn from sin and turn towards Christ. Many Christians struggle with ...  Read More

"So now I am no longer the one doing it, but it is sin living in me." - Romans 7:17    Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote, “What is worse than doing evil is being evil.” This powerful statement reminds us that our actions do not have to define our identity. As believers in Christ, we face the struggle of sin daily, but it’s crucial to understand how God sees us despite our flaws. We sin, but that does...  Read More

"To the faithful saints in Christ Jesus at Ephesus." - Ephesians 1:1   There’s a big difference between a saint and a sinner. Humans are called “sinners” more than 300 times in the Bible. But it’s interesting—Paul never calls his audience “sinners.” Do you know why? Because he’s talking to believers, and if you’ve been SAVED, you’re no longer a SINNER. When you are in Christ, your identity changes...  Read More

"To the faithful saints in Christ Jesus at Ephesus." - Ephesians 1:1   Let’s talk about being a saint. Sainthood isn’t achieved, it’s received. And it’s only received through the person of Jesus Christ. As I read that this week, I thought to myself… according to the Catholic Church, it is nearly impossible to become a Saint.  But the Bible says something completely different. God calls everyone wh...  Read More

"To the faithful saints in Christ Jesus at Ephesus." - Ephesians 1:1   One of the greatest tricks the devil plays on Christians today is convincing us we are something other than who God says we are. He loves planting seeds in our lives that lead to us having a poor self-image and an incorrect view of who we are. I believe there are people reading this who have been saved and are living “in Christ...  Read More