QT 9/18/2026 Eph 5:1–2, Defending the faith by living a life of love

Ephesians 5:1–2 (ESV) —

1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

 

NOTE: Nowadays, the word 'love' is thrown around a lot. I read one website which actually used the slogan "I hate those who hate." I know the intent of the slogan is to gain attention, but the sheer idiocy of it, is hard to get past. Logically, you hate yourself. And in reality, you hate everyone who does not agree with what you agree or believe in. In other words, your life is characterized by hating about 40 percent of the people you come in contact with. I understand that Christians are characterized as hating others -- transgender, homosexual, abortionists, atheists, etc. The reality is that Christians are to hate the sin, not the person. People are made in the image of God and have intrinsic (if not infinite worth). While I am sure there are examples out there, the media has painted with a very broad brush. True believers in Jesus Christ walk in love. Yes, we hate sin and can call sin, sin. But we love people and because we love people, we want them to know the truth. The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I hate sin or do I hate people? The bible is clear, we are to hate sin, and we are to love people.

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to live in such a way that my love for people, all people is clearly shown. Help me to share truth and to answer questions about my faith but to do it in a loving manner that gives respect and dignity to the other person.

QT 9/17/2026 Eph 4:29–32, Build others up, not down

Ephesians 4:29–32 (ESV) —

29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

 

NOTE: Continuing the "put off-put on" theme, Paul gives a few more examples (I will focus on one). Instead of corrupting talk, we are to build others up with our words. 'Corrupting' gives the idea of something that degrades or causes rot. Instead, our words should build others up. Even though it is not an antonym, the word sculpt fits nicely. An artist takes an unfinished object and sculpts it into something beautiful. Ultimately, it is God's job to decide on what God is sculpting in another's life. But we can change a person's attitude by treating them with respect, dignity, joy, and positive comments. Our words can truly help in God's transformation process. For too many people, and I will admit to being in this category, we critique people because we want them to be better. There is a place for critique, but I venture, we (meaning me) would do much better with 10 positive comments to every critical comment. I have changed in this regard, and I have also seen how it has changed others' responses to me as well.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I build others up or do I tear others down with my words?

 

PRAYER: Father, reveal to us when and where we are tearing others down. Help us to see which is the first step, then repent (the second step), and then to praise people for the good things God is doing in their life.

QT 9/16/2026 Eph 4:25–28, Developing balance to life and responses to sin

Ephesians 4:25–28 (ESV) —

25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

 

NOTE: In these three examples of "put off and put on," we see that it is not enough to just stop doing something, we need to replace it. The best examples are those that directly deal with the sin. Stealing requires the use of your hands (most notably), but so does sharing with others. Also stealing takes away, but sharing gives away. These are the best examples, exact opposite actions.

 

What is my struggle that I need to let go, and what is the exact opposite action? Sometimes, the problem is too much free time. In that case, you need to fill it up. That usually is not the problem for most people unless you are retired or just plain lazy. God created work, hard work before the fall and called it good. Yes, rest is also good. But too much of either is unhealthy. It then remains for us to figure out what we need. Do I need more sleep, more consistent wake up times, or more volunteering? I can answer that question for myself, but not for others. Each person will be different.

 

PONDER:

1. What do I need to do to change my lifestyle?

 

PRAYER: Father, give us grace and wisdom to understand our own problems with sin. Give us your spirit to keep us from sin. Protect us from the enemy.

QT 9/15/2026 Eph 4:20-24, Experiencing permanent change

Ephesians 4:20–24 (ESV) —

20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

 

NOTE: One of the true secrets of the Christian life is the principle of "put off and put on." While it certainly is possible to stop bad habits or behavior in its tracks, it is not normal, at least in your own strength. First, anything we do in our own strength is often a failure in the long term. Second, while the Holy Spirit can give us the strength to stop a behavior, often we need to replace the behavior with a new behavior, preferably related. We need to change our mindset. We need spiritual power. I have found that an active life of memorizing scripture, even a verse every day, can sufficiently fill up my time as to prevent me from certain behaviors. The other advantage of scripture is that it is supernatural. You cannot fill your mind with scripture without it changing you.

 

PONDER:

1. What is your plan to change sinful behaviors?
2. What will you replace a sinful behavior with?

 

PRAYER: Father, it is simplistic to think that just memorizing a verse will stop a sin, but a lifetime of memorizing verses will change a person even beyond recognition. I pray that others could experience the life transforming effect of the word of God in their minds.

QT 9/14/2026 Eph 4:17-19, We need a changed life that comes from truth and belief

Ephesians 4:17–19 (ESV) —

17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

 

NOTE: How NOT to walk as a Christian is pretty clear, don't walk (live) like you used to live. Notice the emphasis on the mind. In the past, there was a certain futility in our thinking. Our understanding was darkened, probably the result of believing what others said about life versus what God says. We were ignorant of God and our hard heart did not want to know God. We were callous and empty, and we sought sensuality and greed to fill up our empty souls. But none of that works. It only gets worse as we seek to follow Satan's schemes. We want to be lied to, because it suits our sin. We don't want truth because then we would have to repent of our sins, even though our sins are the cause of our emptiness. We would be hopeless if Jesus had not died for our sins and offered us a gift that can completely change us from the inside out.

 

PONDER:

1. Who do you listen to, the world or God's word?
2. Do you feel empty? You need to do something different …

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you that Jesus changed my life so many years ago. I was lost, but now I am found. I have experienced a taste of heaven. I have seen you take me through the valley, and emerge stronger on the other side. Thank you for your great love and you great mercy.

QT 9/11/2026 Eph 4:14–16, Transformation

Ephesians 4:14–16 (ESV) —

14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

 

NOTE: In the previous sentence, we are encouraged to grow in the knowledge of Christ, be trained by the church leaders, and become more like Christ. In the verses today, we can see that maturity in the faith is what protects us from error or other deceitful schemes of the devil.

 

I think maturity in Christ is misunderstood. It is not gained by spending years attending a church or teaching a class or by our adherence to a set of rules. That is NOT how Christian maturity is obtained. A true man of God grows to know the person of Jesus Christ by daily intake of the word, by daily prayer, by regular application of God's truth to his life, by building others up in the body with the things God is revealing to him in daily times in the word, and by sharing his faith casually, gently, and often to those who ask for a reason for the hope that is in him. If no one is asking you that question, I have to ask you, are you really being transformed by the gospel or are you just playing church?

 

PONDER:

1. Are you transformed by Christ?
2. Are you playing church or invested in works-based religion?

 

PRAYER: Father, open our eyes. So many are deceived about true faith, thinking they know you but never having experiencing the transforming effect of faith in Jesus.

QT 9/10/2026 Eph 4:7–13, The church congregation's job is to do the ministry

Ephesians 4:7–13 (ESV) —

7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,

and he gave gifts to men.”

9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

 

NOTE: We (believers in Christ) were all given spiritual gifts. Some of the leadership and speaking gifts were given to build up the body of Christ in order to equip the saints (that's us) for the work of ministry. It is our job to minister, to share our faith, and to make disciples. It is not the job of the paid church staff to do our job. The pastor's responsibility is NOT to share the gospel with our neighbor, it is ours. And we can do it. Sharing Christ is as simple as sharing your story. If you don't have a story of how Jesus Christ changed your life, then maybe you are not born again. But if you do have a story, you know it, and you know that you have eternal life because of Jesus alone.

 

PONDER:

1. Are you sharing your story with family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors?
2. Have you truly been born again?

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray for opportunities and boldness to share the good news. I pray for sight to see situations where I can share something of the gospel. I pray to be a light and a witness to those around me.

QT 9/9/2026 Eph 4:1–6, Walking in a manner worthy of our calling

Ephesians 4:1–6 (ESV) —

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

 

NOTE: What does it mean to walk in a manner worthy of our calling? Paul gives us 5 descriptive words to describe this life walk.

 

One, our life needs to be characterized by humility. In our narcissistic culture, this is seen less and less. Our culture promotes self, and self-importance. I remembering seeing a congresswoman standing in the door way of first class on an airplane talking on the phone, even as the announcement was being made to sit down and put phones in airplane mode. In her mind, she was more important, and rules did not apply to her. It was a very ugly picture, as most prideful people are, they paint ugly pictures.

 

Two, our life should be characterized by gentleness. This is closely aligned with humility. Gentleness is considered a weakness by some. I like these two quotes. Saint Francis de Sales said, "Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength." Leo Rosten said, "I learned that it is the weak who are cruel, and that gentleness is to be expected only from the strong."

 

Three, our life should be patient. In a world where everything is now, now, now, and go, go, go, the patient person stands out. Patience (for a believer in Jesus Christ) can be developed by believing that God has everything in control. I don't have to worry. I can cast my anxieties upon him.

 

There are two more qualities, bearing one another in love and eager to maintain unity of the spirit. But for today, the above three qualities are enough to meditate on how I can improve.

 

PONDER:

1. What does my life look like? Do people see humility, gentleness, and patience? Why not?

 

PRAYER: Father, continue to change me to be more like my savior. I want people to see Jesus in my life, and realize Jesus changed my life.

 

QT 9/8/2026 Eph 3:20–21, Looking for HIS super-abundant answers

Ephesians 3:20–21 (ESV) —

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

 

NOTE: Paul ends his very lofty prayer with even more lofty ending. God is able to FAR MORE ABUNDANTLY that all we ask or (even) think. The capitalized words are two Greek words combined, both indicating "greatly" and "beyond measure." It is super abundantly.

 

I think we fail to think of God in these terms. We just want our prayers answered in our terms, but God has better plans, much-much-better plans. We need to take this to heart. We need to pray, but in the expectation of God answering super abundantly, in ways (most of the time) that we are not even thinking about.

 

I think part of our problem is that we don't rejoice at all times and in all circumstances. Yesterday, a friend told me a story. Corrie Ten Boom and her sister were moved to a different prison building infested with lice and fleas. Her sister felt this was an opportunity to follow the scriptural command "to rejoice always." Later, her sister found out that the reason the guards never visited their building was the fleas, allowing the two girls to minister to the other prisoners.

 

If we rejoiced more often, we might be surprised to see answers to our prayers that we never imagined.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I look for God's super-abundant answers or do I evaluate answers to prayers based on my small pre-supposed best answers?
2. Do I rejoice in all circumstances? Do I look for good in every situation?

 

PRAYER: Father, a different attitude and perspective to life might completely change our view of everything in life. Help us to life from your perspective and not from ours.

QT 9/5/2026 Eph 3:14–19, What does faith really look like?

Ephesians 3:14–19 (ESV) —

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

 

NOTE: Paul has been discussing this amazing fact that God has torn down the wall of separation between God and us, and the wall of separation between Jew and Gentile, by the work of Jesus his son. To those who believe, the Holy Spirit indwells within us. We now have access to God, and we can know that amazing depth of love that God has for us.

 

In life, because we rebelled at the garden, things do not go the way we would like. Additionally, we have inherited a sin nature which leads us astray. But when we were still God's enemies, we were saved, by faith. But as believers, things still do not go the way we might like, but the promise of scripture, is that whatever happens to us, God will bring good out of the situation for those who know him. We must have faith that God is at work in our current situation. We must have faith in his immense love for us. We must have faith that he saved us for good and not for evil. We must have faith that his plans are better than our plans.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I realize the immensity of my salvation and my unworthiness?
2. Am I willing to trust God during the difficult times in my life?

 

PRAYER: Father, I like everyone else, struggle when things don't go the way I want it. My only advantage is that I don't throw out platitudes, like "God is good," and "God will provide," when I don't feel it. I have learned to throw off stoicism and fake masks. And in my quiet moments with you, I do repeat the truths about your love. I remind myself that you are in charge. And I pour out my soul to you. I claim the promise that you will bring good, true good out of the situation.

QT 9/3/2026 Eph 3:7–13, FAT is a good thing

Ephesians 3:7–13 (ESV) —

7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

 

NOTE: The main point of the passage is the predicted unity of Jews and Gentiles as believers, and even more importantly, their complete equality in Christ (Constable, 2003). What I prefer to focus on this morning, is how Paul viewed his ministry. Paul saw himself as a nobody, not deserving of any special treatment. Some have suggested he was also grammatically playing on words, as his name in Latin meant "little." From other passages, we know that his stature was not his defining quality (In Lystra, Barnabas was called Zeus, and Paul was called Hermes, mainly because he was the chief speaker) . He could also be like Hermes in his short height and slight chubbiness. The Corinthians said that his bodily presence was weak and even his speaking was of no account (in contrast to his letters). Whatever he looked like, Paul did not see himself as deserving of the incredible gift of God's grace, the preaching of the unsearchable riches of Christ to the Gentiles. And yet, this nobody in his own eyes, was the key man God used to change the entire known world.

 

We don't have to be a "somebody" for God to use. But I do think there are a few requirements which Paul met.

 

1. A daily desire to dig into the word of God
2. A priority placed on the things of God and the will of God
3. A teachable spirit willing to learn from others
4. A faithfulness to be obedient to God's word
5. A humility to accept the things of God no matter how seemingly unimportant to ourselves

 

PONDER:

1. There was a term we used to use to describe a potential disciple, it was FAT. It meant, Faithful, Available, and Teachable. Are you, am I FAT?

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray for believers in these days, that we would turn from our lazy and narcissistic ways, and recommit ourselves to serving you. Help us to see where we have placed our own comfort over service to others.

QT 9/2/2026 Eph 3:1–6, The mystery of the church

Ephesians 3:1–6 (ESV) —

1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

 

NOTE: There are 7 or 8 mysteries revealed in the New Testament, that were not revealed in the Old Testament, although they were hinted at. Paul calls them mysteries for that reason. The mystery here is that Gentiles are partakers with the Jews of the promises in Christ. We share the same body -- the universal church -- and both groups are one, and fellow heirs.

 

The new body is the church, which Paul discusses in other letters as well. Technically, there is no Jewish religion or law now. Jesus has fulfilled all the conditions of the law and has nailed the law to the cross. There is a new high priest, prophet, and king in direct violation of the old covenant (for one, Jesus of Judah as high priest), hence the need for the new covenant.

 

The prophets of old foretold these things, but Jesus was rejected by his own people and put to death by the Romans (Gentiles). For now, God has set aside Israel for a time (we call it the church age). Israel is still God's possession, and he promises to return in the end days to bring as many as possible into the real kingdom. In the meantime, we can pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

 

PONDER:

1. In Romans, Paul says God is not finished with his people, Israel. Are you praying that as many as possible will hear the gospel before the end of days?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for saving me from hell and giving me a new life, a born-again life. You have changed me from the inside out. I still fall, and yet you still pick me up. Have mercy upon me.

QT 9/1/2026 Eph 2:19–22, Continue in spiritual growth

Ephesians 2:19–22 (ESV) —

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

 

NOTE: So, one of the questions I have had is whether we will have the Holy Spirit in the Kingdom. In Corinthians, it says our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, which is why we should keep it free from sin and other things that my damage the temple. In the passage today, it speaks to the Universal Church as growing into a holy temple to the Lord, but it also seems to imply the same thing for the individual is verse 22. Yes, we will have new bodies, but there is no reason to assume we still won't need the Holy Spirit. I don't believe we will be perfect in knowledge. We can still grow and learn even in the Millennial kingdom. We will need the Spirit's help as we fulfill the responsibilities given to us by Jesus in the new kingdom. And I kind of wonder, if what we are learning and doing now might also carry over into the new kingdom, minus the sin and its temptations from the flesh.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I think of this life as preparation for the kingdom?
2. Or do I live this life for myself?

 

PRAYER: Father, continue to help us grow and change. I don't know what the future holds, but I certainly don't want to be lazy in my service to you.

QT 8/31/2026 Ephesians 2:14–18, Hate in today's society

Ephesians 2:14–18 (ESV) —

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

 

NOTE: There should be no hostility between Jew and Gentile, especially in the church. Antisemitism will probably reign in the world until the end days, but in the church, it should not. God has created one new man, the church in place of two: believing Jews and believing Gentiles. Both groups have received the message of peace. We, Gentiles, have access to the Father through the same Spirit that gives believing Jews access to the Father. We are one in Jesus.

 

But what about hostility to unbelieving Jews? The New Testament authors clearly tell believers (Jew and Gentile) to love our brothers and our neighbors as ourselves. We can disagree with actions taken by others, but we must love them. We can speak against sin, but we must love the sinner. The world does the opposite, it hates those who do not agree with its' philosophy. It says it hates those who hate, but the only haters are those opposed to us. They call it hate when we call sin what it is, sin. And we do need to be careful not to allow our hatred for the sin to cloud our respect for the individual. All people are made in the image of God (they are NOT children of God but they are made in his image). They deserve love and respect, and truth.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I hate the sin, but still love and respect the sinner?

 

PRAYER: Father, there is so much rage today. Most of the rage is on the political left. They killed a man, Charlie Kirk, for hate, but whenever he questioned an individual to show him how he hated, they never had an answer. The left hates those who will not support their sin. Help me to know how to love in word and deed. I know that loving a person includes telling the truth. Not telling the truth only deludes the person and is not loving. Help me to tell truth, and to show other signs of visible love to the person who considers me an enemy.

QT 8/28/2026 Eph 2:11–13, Receive or Rebel

Ephesians 2:11–13 (ESV) —

11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

 

NOTE: In a round-about way, Paul shares some of our rewards in Christ. We are not separated from Christ anymore. We are not alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, but new citizens. In fact, we are now God's possession and adopted into God's family. The world believes all people are God's children, but that is not what the bible teaches. Only those whom God has adopted into his family are children of God. John writes:

 

John 1:12 (ESV) — 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

 

Also, we are not strangers to the covenants of promise. We do have hope now whereas we had no future prior to Jesus. We had no help, but now we have God and his special hope.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I really a  child of God? Have I placed my faith in Jesus Christ and his death on the cross as payment for my sins? Have I asked him into my life as Lord and Savior?

 

PRAYER: Father, It is so simple to receive your gift. Yet so many, in their rebellion, and refusal to give up their lives, actively fight against your gift. It doesn't take any work to become a child of God, but it does take work to rebel at every step.

QT 8/27/2026 Eph 2:8–10, Unworthy but saved by faith

Ephesians 2:8–10 (ESV) —

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

 

NOTE: The first verse puts God's sovereignty and man's free will into one phrase -- "by grace you have been saved through faith." God's grace initiates everything but it still requires a free will response, faith. The phrase "And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God," does not negate faith or free will, it just emphasizes that faith is not works. The bible says repent and believe -- those are not works. No matter how you might intellectually argue that an action, even a mental action, is a work, it is not. It is a response to God's gift. You don't earn a birthday present. The present is not earned by your reaching out and unwrapping it. The present is freely given, and the present is freely received. If it is earned, then it is a wage and not a gift. Of wages, God says that the "wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." All the work was accomplished by God. Jesus lived a perfect life. He died on the cross for my sin. He rose again from the dead. God loved me first, not the other way around. God gave me a sensitive heart to hear the good news. God convinced me of my sin. I received the gift by faith and became a child of God.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I realize that I was never good enough to be saved?
2. Do I entertain stupid notions that I was a good person?

 

PRAYER: Father, I do know my sin and my unworthiness, but I also realize that I have lived a fairly innocent and even naïve life. I was not exposed to the depravity that many see. So what? I still know that I have sinned, and probably every day. I know that compared to your infinite holiness, my good deeds, my best deeds, are dirty rags in your eyes. I realize that truth. So I will not fool myself with a false sense of arrogance for my life. I'm just thankful to be in the kingdom and to see life as it truly is.

QT 8/26/2026 Eph 2:4–7, Changing the focus

Ephesians 2:4–7 (ESV) —

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

 

NOTE: We were legitimately under God's wrath according to the preceding verses (2:1-3). Verse 4 sets up the contrast, "but God …." Because God is rich in mercy (meaning we don't get what we should deserve), and because of his great love for us (not based on anything we had done -- grace!), even when we were spiritually DEAD, made us alive in Jesus. We are raised up with God and seated with God in the heavenly places because of Jesus. What does that mean? It is actually a future physical state and a current spiritual state. We are changed inwardly such that we have new goals and new desires, spiritual goals and God's will. But physically, we are still on earth. The author states it in the past because of the assurity of the statement. In other words, it is a done deal. We will realize it in the coming ages, but from God's perspective, it has already been accomplished.

 

We need to recognize that our hope in the future kingdom is an absolute certainty. In fact John writes:

 

1 John 3:2–3 (ESV) — 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

 

This eschatological promise has a special benefit, it purifies us. When we stop living for the world and start living for our heavenly city, there is a purifying effect -- something every one of us should desire. It is good for our souls.

 

PONDER:

1. Life has many worries, concerns, and traps. How can we turn the channel (an old TV idiom) and start focusing on the Lord and not these temporary distractions?
2. Do I understand the undeserving nature of my salvation?

 

PRAYER: Father, for myself, I need to make the following verse a lifestyle practice.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (ESV) — 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

 

Instead of a long prayer once a day, I need many short prayers throughout the day, thanking God, rejoicing, and asking for you to work in my life.

QT 8/25/2026 Eph 2:1-3, Recognizing that we need a savior

Ephesians 2:1–3 (ESV) —

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

 

NOTE: It seems that very few people truly understand our position before Christ, or for those who don't know Christ, their current condition before God. Wiersbe, writes:

 

“The unbeliever is not sick; he is dead! He does not need resuscitation; he needs resurrection. All lost sinners are dead, and the only difference between one sinner and another is the state of decay.”

 

Paxton adds,

 

“The only place were all men meet on a common level and share the same position is in their natural birth in sin.”

 

But, the Prince of the power of the air, has so clouded the minds of people that we believe our moral condition only needs teaching (pelagianism) or special drugs and regimens (semi-pelagianism) (source: Simpson, 1968).

 

We have a serious moral problem. There are no moral people on earth. "We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Rom 3:23)" It is essential that we come to this conclusion. Eternity is a bad time to find out your wrong.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I sure of my salvation?
2. Or am I depending on the fact that I am a good person? (clue: there are no "good" people on the earth, Rom 3:9-12 and Rom 3:20)

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray for the cloud to life from people's eyes and they would see themselves as they are -- sinners in rebellion to God. It started in the garden when we chose to be our own gods choosing what is good and evil. It continues today. Open our eyes to our sin. Open our eyes to Jesus, our only hope. I pray that people who read this note might repent and believe in Jesus as savior and Lord.

QT 8/24/2026 Eph 1:15-23, Pray to know, and pray to thank

Ephesians 1:15–23 (ESV) —

15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

 

NOTE: I do not think we appreciate enough what God has done in our lives and what God is doing now. The Ephesian's faith in the Lord and their love toward all the saints was a result of the change that God had wrought in their lives. Yes, they were choosing obedience and application of the word, but it was the Holy Spirit working within them to accomplish these changes. We can't rest on our Christian laurels or ever think we have made it. There is so much more to know about God, there is so much more to see, there is so much more in our hope. Our inheritance is glorious beyond belief, and God's power is beyond our understanding. Ultimately, God is in charge of all things. He allows 'stuff' to 'happen,' but he promises to bring good in the lives of those who know him. And he intervenes when he chooses to change the direction  of what evil men attempt.

 

What is the application? Pray and be thankful. Pray to know, see, and hope. Thank him for what he has done over the years to change the person you are today from the person you used to be.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I experiencing this change? If not, do I really know the savior?
2. If I have experiencing the born again life, am I pursuing the Lord with the same vigor?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for where I am today. I am different person. I am far from perfect but I am also far from who I was. You have changed my life from the inside out. You have given me insight and wisdom. You have used me to help others to grow and change in their knowledge of you. Thank you for your wonderful works.

QT 8/21/2026 Eph 1:11-14, A promised inheritance dependent entirely on God

Ephesians 1:11–14 (ESV) —

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

 

NOTE: In Jesus, we have an inheritance that we have been predestined to according to God's will. In other words, God chose us and with that comes an inheritance. When we heard and believed, we were sealed with the Holy Spirit, who remains in us as as the promise of that inheritance until we acquire possession. Intermingled in the midst of predestined and acquisition of a future inheritance, is "we heard and believed," and yet it is also all predestined. In God's infinite mind, this all fits together as a perfect puzzle. But in our finite mind, it doesn't. God did it all, even before the beginning of time, and then somehow, later in a moment in time, we freely chose to believe the gospel. How do we reconcile?

 

I choose to believe what God has revealed in the Scriptures as truth. My lack of understanding does not sentence God but rather exposes my limited human knowledge and understanding. I admit that compared to the infinite I am literally stupid. And that is true of comparing myself to many others with finite minds as well.

 

I don't understand predestination and free will. But I do understand promise. God has promised an inheritance and has sealed me with his Holy Spirit as a guarantee of that future inheritance. God is on the line, so to speak, for everything. I wait and praise him for his overwhelming kindness and mercy to me.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I secure in my salvation? Have I heard and believed?

 

PRAYER: Lord, I'm not sure I will even ask this question in heaven because I probably still will not understand. But I do believe that I am predestined to a future inheritance. And I know that I chose to believe after that fact. It does all fit together in your mind.