Word for the Day Ministries, Inc.

Scripture

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called” (Eph 4:1 NKJV).

Devotion

Paul up to this point, in his letter to the Ephesians, has been laying down doctrinal truths as he is accustomed to do. Now he turns his attention more to the application of those doctrines already established. In the coming days we shall look at the grounds and proper means he gives for accomplishing this task, but today let us focus on the calling.

Walk worthy of the calling with which you were called. Other translations use the word vocation instead of calling, but the idea is the same. We are accountable to God to live our lives in a way that no harm would come to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Like David who failed with Bathsheba, killing Uriah, we may bring a good deal of damage to the name of Christ if we fail in our behavior.

“So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also [who is] born to you shall surely die.” (2Sa 12:13-14 NKJV)

Nothing can compare with the blessings of grace in salvation. To be a recipient of such divine favor, and return to wallow in mire is tantamount to adultery. “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (Jas 4:4 NKJV)

My dear friends let us walk worthy of our calling. There is more at stake here than your comfort. The name of Christ is at stake.

Sometimes I think of sins I have committed after salvation, and I am overwhelmed by grief. Knowing that someday I will stand before Christ to give an account, I fall before Him in shame. Our only recourse in these times of clarity is to have faith in the mercies of God. Like David who committed a great sin and was spared his life, we too may trust in the grace of God.

As the Lord has said, “[The righteous] cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD [is] near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many [are] the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned. The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.” (Ps 34:17-22 NKJV)

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” (1Jo 5:21 NKJV)

Scripture

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Eph 3:20-21 NKJV)

Devotion

All glory is to be given to Christ. He is the Almighty Potentate. Have you thought about the power of Christ? He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. The highest aspiration is not beyond God’s “power” (δυναμιν) to bestow—Robertson’s New Testament Word Pictures.

Wow, I have always had a pretty inventive and vivid imagination. I bet you can think of some very creative things yourself. Well there is nothing you can think of that God cannot far surpass if it be His will for you. You cannot out ask God.

The problem is, “. . . you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend [it] on your pleasures” (Jas 4:2-3 NKJV).

We don’t ask God for things because we get caught up in sin. When we sin we don’t want to be exposed to His glory for it reveals our waywardness. This makes the point that our greatest sin is a lack of faith. We often don’t really believe that God can give us the victory over sin we need. Instead, we rely on the arm of flesh which fails us so miserably.

Then as James said, if we do ask God to help us we sometimes come with bad motives. Sin has consequences, and we don’t like that so we pray. However, God knows our heart, and sees our true motives. Trying to escape the consequences of sin is not the same as repenting of sin.

God’s glory must be our motive. When we ask God to give us victory, it should be our motive to glorify God through our obedience which is dependent upon the Holy Spirit of God strengthening our inner man.

It is time to trust Christ. If you believe He is able to do what He says, then we may ask with confidence. This is not “name it and claim it” which obviously is rooted in selfish desires, but believing and trusting.

What is the sin to which you continue to yield? Glorify Christ with true repentance trusting that He is able to do above what you ask. He will make a way for you to escape if your motive is pure (1 Cor. 10:13).

Scripture

“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what [is] the width and length and depth and height—— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Eph 3:14-19 NKJV)

Devotion

It is not the man of flesh that needs strengthening, but the inner man. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2Co 10:3-5 NKJV).

His Spirit must strengthen you; Christ must dwell in your hearts through faith. Then and only then will you know the love of Christ which passes knowledge.

You may be infatuated with a person, but you must live with a person to have real love, to really comprehend the width and length and depth and height of love.

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore!
How He watches o’er His loved ones, died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth, watcheth o’er them from the throne!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, love of every love the best!
‘Tis an ocean full of blessing, ’tis a haven giving rest!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, ’tis a heaven of heavens to me;
And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee!– Samuel Trevor Francis, 1834-1925

Please take a few moments today to drink in the great love God has for you. You must spend time in His word and speaking to Him in prayer if you wish to know Him better.

“Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, ‘Which is the first commandment of all?’ Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments [is]: Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This [is] the first commandment’” (Mark 12:28-30 NKJV).

Scripture

“For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—— if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly [places], according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.” (Eph 3:1-13 NKJV)

Devotion

God’s will is a subject that has so much interest. Believers are always asking, “What is God’s will for me?” Paul knew his mission in life; he was to preach to the Gentiles the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This was a mystery in times past, the Gentiles in same body as the Jews, and Paul was commissioned by God to take this truth to the world.

Understanding your calling must give one a feeling of confidence to move forward with boldness. Paul endured much pain as he fulfilled his calling.

Ask yourself this question, “Is God’s will for my life really that hard to know?” Don’t we have clear instructions we are to follow? Maybe they are not specific to an occupation or location, but are they any less clear than Paul’s directions? Not really!

Let’s look at three things we know God wants us to do. I believe if you will focus on these fundamental commands, He will guide you into all the issues of occupation and location. Here are three that I thought of, and of course this list is not exhaustive.

1. “. . . Be holy, for I am holy.” (1Pe 1:16 NKJV)

2. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1Th 5:16-18 NKJV)

3. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Mt 28:19 NKJV)

God’s main concern for you is that He has your heart. He wants you love Him and your brothers. Those are the two great commandments. He said, “on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Mt 22:40).

It’s so simple, but it can be really hard. Maybe that is why we focus so much on the big things in life. Maybe we use those big decisions to excuse our failures with the easily understood things. Maybe we just don’t want to deal with the really hard things in life. Give it some thought.

Scripture

“For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, [that is], the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man [from] the two, [thus] making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief [cornerstone], in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” (Eph 2:14-22 NKJV)

Devotion

He created one new man from the two. God has opened the door to all men through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ. No longer is Jew and Gentile recognized, but Christ.

It would do us good to pause and ask ourselves how we treat others. Do we place importance on one group of people over another? Do we see people as favored by God and others held off? Well if we do, we must be careful to repent and seek the Lord’s Spirit.

God is no respecter of person. Nationality is not important with God, only humility. We must be likewise.

James talks about playing favorites and condemns the practice. “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [the Lord] of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?” (Jas 2:1-4 NKJV)

The context in James is financial, but the practice of making distinctions is universal, and is not to be practiced in any form for any reason. Notice what James says about this evil. He questions, “Have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?”

May we never be guilty of such evil thoughts! We may guard our hearts by remembering that someday we too will stand before a judge, a righteous, all-knowing judge.

Scripture

“Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh——who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—— that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Eph 2:11-13 NKJV)

Devotion

If you stand in God’s favor, it is because Christ shed His blood for you. I don’t know if we meditate on this enough. We were without hope and without God in the world. This refers specifically to Gentiles as the Jews were God’s chosen people at least nationally. However, the believer may and should have a deeper, personal appreciation of this glorious truth.

We all sacrifice some for our loved ones. When they need our help, we put aside our own projects and seek to make their lives a little easier. However, the magnitude of Christ sacrifice for us is incomparable.

Physically, He went through torturous pain. Those who died on a cross died from suffocation. To prolong the agony the Roman guards would spike the condemned’s feet close enough that they could lift themselves up slightly to catch their breath which was being cut off because of their raised arms. Of course this momentary relief came with excruciating pain as the spike tore deeper into the flesh as the sufferer bore down.

Beyond the physical, Christ also suffered spiritually. In anticipation of His crucifixion, He sweats like great drops of blood (Luke 22:44). While hanging on the cross He cried out, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:34) We cannot begin to comprehend what Christ went through to die for us. However, we should try to get a glimpse of it for it will humble us and motivate us.

My dear friends, as it is written, “. . . the sufferings of this present time are not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Ro 8:18 NKJV) Yes there are difficult times that we must plow through, but Christ went through far more to ensure that our end will be glorious, without pain, and eternal. So, keep yourselves in holiness.

“For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be [in the likeness] of [His] resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with [Him], that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For [the death] that He died, He died to sin once for all; but [the life] that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness to God.” (Ro 6:5-13 NKJV)

Scripture

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [it is] the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph 2:8-10 NKJV)

Devotion

We were not saved by works, but we were saved to work. Apparently, God has something for us to do while we remain on this earth. If we take it as it reads, He has something specific for each of His children. While it may be going too far to read into this text the idea of a specific calling, it is clear that we are to walk in good works generally.

This is not for salvation, but a result of salvation as God has prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. What are these good works? Well it is not limited to, but must be grounded in faith and love.

“. . . ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.’” (John 6:28-29 NKJV) Of course, after believing, the Holy Spirit directs us in service to God and others.

Our primary service to God is love demonstrated by holiness. “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” (John 14:21 NKJV) The same is true in our service to others which is why Jesus said the two greatest commandments are: “. . . ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is [the] first and great commandment. And [the] second [is] like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Mt 22:37-40 NKJV)

The point is God expects us to walk worthy of our calling. We don’t work our way to heaven, but we ought to be working until we get to heaven. In fact, it would be hazardous to ignore our calling because we are His workmanship. The ability to walk outside of God’s will might be an indication that one is not a product of God’s craftsmanship. Does God make mistakes? Of course He does not! So what explanation is there for your lack of love, holiness, and good deeds?

“You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe——and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” (Jas 2:19-20 NKJV)

Scripture

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in the heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in [His] kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [it is] the gift of God,” (Eph 2:4-8 NKJV)

Devotion

God made us alive even when we were dead in trespasses. This He did to show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness towards us in Christ. What is it that magnifies God’s grace more than its timing?

God did not give us His grace when we were near the kingdom. No, He gave us His grace when we were hell bound and deserving of eternal damnation. We were snatched from the fire and made new in Christ because of the good pleasure of His will. Like a man ready to fall over the edge of Niagara Falls, no like a man having already fallen over the edge, He quickened us by His Spirit.

Our faith came as a result of God’s grace in our lives and not the other way around. How would grace be magnified if I beckoned it? I tell you your faith is a gift of God as the Holy Scripture says. He loved you and called you out of a lost and dying world not because of anything you did, but because He might show the exceeding riches of His grace.

“Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that [Jesus] sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind [Him] weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped [them] with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed [them] with the fragrant oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw [this], he spoke to himself, saying, ‘This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman [this is] who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ So he said, ‘Teacher, say it.’ ‘There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. “And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?’ Simon answered and said, ‘I suppose the [one] whom he forgave more.’ And He said to him, ‘You have rightly judged.’ Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped [them] with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, [which are] many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loves little.’ Then He said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, ‘Who is this who even forgives sins?” Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.’” (Lu 7:36-50 NKJV)

Do you love little, or much? Your understanding of grace will have a bearing on your answer. Those who understand the hopeless condition of their depravity, and see the grace of God as an act of mercy will love much because they know they have been forgiven much.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Scripture

“And you [He made alive], who were dead in trespasses and sins, 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, 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.” (Eph 2:1-3 NKJV)

Devotion

Part of regeneration is the opening of the mind to spiritual realities. As it is written, “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” (2Co 4:3-4 NKJV) Satan has a dark cloak over the minds of the unbelieving, and they cannot see the truth of their condition. This is the key to understanding depravity.

The reason people continue to reject the Gospel in light of irrefutable evidence is not a lack of education, but an inability to see the truth as it relates to their own lives. A lost man will always justify his sinful actions. He will convince himself that the wickedness he commits is not deserving of death. He has believed the lie that you can sin and not die. Just as the serpent told Eve, “you will not surely die,” the depraved says, “I will not surely die.”

This renders the sinner incapable of repentance because he sees no need to repent. Without the quickening of the Holy Spirit he will continue in his delusion until the judgment where the full weight of his foolishness is realized.

Make no mistake this is not forced upon the sinner, he sins willfully. He is by nature a child of wrath, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind. It is not God that makes him a sinner. “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” (Jas 1:14-15 NKJV)

This being true, surely you must praise God. And you He made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins. Is this not cause for a great celebration? The seed has been broadcast to many, but He removed your blindness. “For many are called, but few [are] chosen.” (Mt 22:14 NKJV)

Having eyes to see, let us all walk worthy of our calling. “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God [did] by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those [who live] according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded [is] death, but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace.” (Ro 8:2-6 NKJV)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Scripture

“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what [is] the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated [Him] at His right hand in the heavenly [places], far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all [things] under His feet, and gave Him [to be] head over all [things] to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” (Eph 1:17-23 NKJV)

Devotion

Paul prays the Ephesians would have a spirit of wisdom and revelation about the Father. He specifically prays that they would know the hope of His calling, riches of their inheritance, and the exceeding greatness of His power toward them.

These facts are really beyond human understanding. We see the example of this great love and power in Christ who was raised from the dead. Therefore, Paul prays that the Ephesians’ eyes would be opened and they would be supernaturally enlightened.

My dear friends we need to have spiritual eyes also. It is the hope of His calling and promise of our inheritance that helps us to fight the flesh and walk the narrow way. Do not allow yourself to forget the God you serve. “. . . Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Eph 3:20 NKJV) It is God that works in us, and we must always remember that without Him we can do nothing!

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every [branch] that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you [are] the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw [them] into the fire, and they are burned. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” (Joh 15:1-8 NKJV)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!