⁸ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. ¹⁰ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

God’s Masterpiece

I wont focus in on the first part of this passage, since it was the primary topic in our look at Romans. Instead, I want to zero in on verse ten. We are God’s masterpiece.

How incredible is that? Notice it doesn’t say we are something God put together. We are something that God came up with during a weak moment. It doesn’t say, “God created this incredible planet, with all the beauty found within it, and then took whatever was remaining and created humanity.”

We’re his masterpiece.

I can still picture standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon as the sun set. It was one of the most incredible, beautiful images I’ve even taken in. Word simply do not do it justice. It was that stunningly beautiful. The setting sun cast incredible colours on the rock, and I watched as the shadows played with the view, causing the scene to change every minute. Every person standing there was in complete silence. When darkness finally came, we still stood in silence, in awe of what we had just witnessed.

Could anything be more incredible than that view?

Well, yes. You are. I am. We are. As amazing as a sunset at the Grand Canyon is, it’s not God’s masterpiece. We are.

According to the dictionary, a masterpiece is “a person’s greatest piece of work.” When you consider an artist, his masterpiece is that one thing that stands above everything else he’s created. And that is what we are. We, humanity, stand above all else that God has created.

Let that sink in. As I stood and watched the beauty of that sunset, I whispered to God, “Lord, it’s incredible.” My focus was on what I was seeing, but if I had been listening, I would have heard God respond, “Yeah, it’s pretty cool. But Rob, look around at the people who are watching it. They are my proudest creation. Do you see those people the way I see them?”

What if we started seeing others as God’s masterpiece. The politician you like to criticize, the guy who cut you off on the highway, the homeless person sitting on the sidewalk every day. What if you saw each of them as a masterpiece? Would you respond differently? What if you looked in the mirror, and instead of seeing everything you don’t like about the person looking back, you saw a masterpiece created by God?

It’s just a thought.

My prayer: Lord, I know that I don’t see myself the way you see me. I know I don’t see others the way you see them. Too often, I see the things I don’t like. I criticize. I get frustrated with others. Help me to see the masterpiece that you have created. Not so that we become proud or arrogant, after all, it’s the artist who takes credit for the way the artwork turns out. You are the one who can boast at your creation, not us. But still, help me see myself and others the way you do. Amen.

Until tomorrow.

⁴ But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, ⁵ that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) ⁶ For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. ⁷ So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

Now You’re Alive

Yesterday, we talked about the fact that so many people have no idea that they are spiritually dead. They continually strive to find meaning and purpose in life, but because they have not turned to Christ, they remain frustrated and lost.

Those who do grab ahold of the gift of grace are in the very opposite position. Rather than death, they find themselves spiritually alive. As Jesus put it, we’re abundantly alive.

And yet, I wonder if those who are alive are any more aware of their state than those who are dead spiritually. I meet many who have turned their life over to Christ, and yet function as if they are in no better a place than anyone else. They complain, struggle, and find themselves just as discouraged as those who don’t know Christ. In many ways, there seems to be little, if any difference.

Why is that?

I’m glad you asked. I believe it’s because it takes faith to step out and live the life that we have been called to live. It’s takes faith to truly believe that Christ has made a difference in your life. We’ve been talking about that all month at Bikers’ Church (you can watch the videos here). Extreme faith is when you take the truth of Scripture and actually live it out in your life.

So, what are you waiting for? You’re alive. Start living that way.

My prayer: Lord, you gift of salvation means I am no longer dead spiritually. You have brought me back to live. You invite me to live a life that is beyond anything I could do without you. I want to live a life that fulfills your calling for me. Help me to see how that is possible. Amen.

Until tomorrow.

¹ Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. ² You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. ³ All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

You’re Dead

I’m a big fan of Monty Python. And so, I can’t help but think of the scene from “In Search of the Holy Grail” with the Dead Collector. (You can watch the video clip here.) I guess it’s just my sick sense of humour.

Here’s the thing. In the Monty Python clip, the guy really isn’t dead … at least not yet. However, as Paul points out, those who are without Christ are dead. Spiritually dead. The problem is, many don’t know it. They don’t think there’s anything wrong. They believe they’re okay. And yet, they are dead spiritually. As we’ll see tomorrow, it is Jesus who brings us back to life.

The other thing Paul points out is that those who are dead spiritually, serve the devil. Now, that’s offensive to some. To suggest that anyone who isn’t a follower of Christ is a follower of the devil is “fighting words.” And yet, as we’ve said before in this devotional, “you gotta serve somebody.” We’re all slaves. We are either a slave to Christ or a slave to the enemy of the gospel.

It’s why we need Christ. To set us free from slavery to the devil. To free us from his control. This will make more sense tomorrow.

My prayer: Lord, I know there was a time when I was dead. I was a slave to my sin and found myself continually struggling with doing the right thing. You set me free. For that I am eternally grateful. May I never lose sight of that glorious truth. Amen.

Until tomorrow.

¹⁹ I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power ²⁰ that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. ²¹ Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. ²² God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. ²³ And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.

The Same Spirit

I am convinced that most people don’t believe this passage. It’s one of those parts of the Bible that we read and subconsciously go, “Yeah, yeah, whatever.” We simply do not believe that Paul’s telling the truth.

You see, if we did believe it, we’d live differently. We’d wake up each morning convinced that God was going to do something incredible through our lives that day. It might be something tangible, or it might be something we don’t even see, but God will use us to touch lives in a miraculous way.

And yet, most of us don’t wake up each day believing that. We wake up each day simply hoping to get through the day without screwing up too badly. At best, we hope that in some small way, we might make someone’s life a little better.

That type of thinking simply doesn’t fit in to this passage. Paul is suggesting that the very Spirit of God … the same power that raised Jesus from the dead … is flowing through us as we live out what it means to be the Church.

Perhaps it’s why this is part two of the prayer that Paul had for the Ephesians. He started that prayer yesterday, asking God to give them spiritual wisdom and insight. Today, he is praying that they would comprehend the significance of God’s power.

It’s a good prayer for us as well.

My prayer: I admit it, Lord. Far too often I forget that you are truly all powerful. That your Spirit, the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, is still alive and working today … through me. It’s so hard to believe that. And so, I simply pray the prayer that Paul had for the Ephesians. Help me understand the incredible greatness of your power. Amen.

Until tomorrow.

¹⁵ Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, ¹⁶ I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, ¹⁷ asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. ¹⁸ I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

Spiritual Wisdom

Paul tells the Ephesians that he has been praying for them. His prayers have focused specifically on two things. We’ll look at one today and the other tomorrow.

His first focus of prayer is that the Ephesians will have spiritual wisdom and insight. I think his choice of words here is significant. Do you notice he’s not praying for knowledge? You see, I believe there is a huge difference between knowledge and wisdom. And yet, for many, it is the pursuit of knowledge that drives them.

Knowledge is the acquiring of facts. You might call it “book smarts.” I have met some pretty stupid people who have a lot of knowledge. They can quote from a whole bunch of books. They can offer you incredible facts on a variety of subjects. And yet, none of it is actually applicable to their daily life.

Wisdom is when you apply knowledge to your experience. It’s when you take a fact, and then, because of your experiences, you apply that fact to how you live out your daily life. Wisdom comes out of taking the theoretical and making it practical.

But notice that Paul doesn’t pray that the Ephesians will simply gain any kind of wisdom. He’s very specific. He’s praying that they will gain spiritual wisdom. He doesn’t want them to simply gain biblical doctrine. He doesn’t want them to just quote all the words of Jesus and have a decent grasp on Christ’s teachings. No. He is praying for more than spiritual knowledge. He’s praying that they will take all that they’ve learned and apply it to how they live out their daily life.

You see, you can have a lot of knowledge about the power of the Holy Spirit. You can read these Oil Changes each day and gain more knowledge on various books of the Bible. Or, you can go further. You can take what you learn about God in these daily posts and ask God how you can apply them to your day to day life. How can you take this knowledge and allow it to become wisdom?

That is a great prayer.

So, let me pray it today. Lord, I’m not satisfied in simply knowing all about you. I don’t want to simply build a strong understanding of doctrine. I want to apply all this truth to my life. Rather than simply knowing that the Holy Spirit can empower me to live for you, I want to experience his power. I want my knowledge to be transformed into spiritual wisdom. And yet, it’s impossible without you doing it. So, give me spiritual wisdom. Amen.

Until tomorrow.

¹² God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. ¹³ And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. ¹⁴ The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

The Holy Spirit

I hear it all the time. In fact, I would suggest it’s the most common excuse people give for why they struggle with their spiritual journey. When the words start to come out of their mouths, I want to finish them. I know what they are about to say.

Of course Jesus lived a sinless life. I mean, he’s God! He has an advantage over us. If I were God, I could overcome any temptation too!

The excuse is right on one thing: we’re not God. I’ve driven home that point many times in this devotional, so I wont go into that today. He’s God, we’re not. Period.

But other than that, the excuse is just that … an excuse. And, there’s no foundation for it.

Did you catch what Paul says in this passage? The Holy Spirit – the Spirit of God – lives inside of you! Right now, as you sit in front of your screen, God dwells inside you. He offers you his power, his strength, his anointing. With him, all things are possible. Residing within you is the power to accomplish everything that God calls you to do in life.

Now, let me be clear on this. I’m not saying YOU have the power within yourself. This isn’t some new age – “you can do it!” – baloney. I’m talking about the God who created the universe. Who sustains every living thing. THAT God dwells inside of you. And it is his power that is available to you.

In another place, Paul put it this way: The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. (Romans 8:11)

So, let’s stop making excuses. Let’s recognize the power of God that is within us, allowing us to serve him with all we are. Today, as you go about your daily routine, take time to recognize the God who resides within. It’s an incredible thought.

My prayer: Holy Spirit, too often I neglect you. I forget that you are even there, present in me. For that I am sorry. But today, I acknowledge your presence. As I do all the things I need to do today, I understand that you are with me, ready to provide me the strength I need to resist temptation and to live fully for you. For that, I am grateful. Amen.

Until tomorrow.

⁹ God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. ¹⁰ And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. ¹¹ Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

God Makes Everything Work …

It’s an incredible thought, isn’t it? One day. Some day. Everything will be brought together under the authority of Christ. How it will happen is up to theological debate. When it will happen is something only God knows. But, it will happen. All the pain, suffering, war, tragedies, etc. will come to an end. One day.

Until then, God is working through every situation. The terrible earthquake in Haiti? God is working through it. The neighbour who just learned they have cancer? God will work through it.

The question is: can you trust God to work through you? You see, the way he works is through you. And me. Us. In Haiti, God works through the thousands of people who mobilize to help those in need. Your neighbour battling cancer, God can work through you to bring hope and comfort. Or, if the neighbour is a Christ follower, God may work through them to demonstrate trust in the midst of cancer.

All I know is God works through us to achieve his purpose in the world. That is, if we are willing to let him work through us.

Yesterday was the thirteenth anniversary of my daughter’s death (you can read my thoughts about that here.) I still don’t have the answer to my why question, but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God has worked through me to achieve his purpose because of how Heather and I trusted him. And, he will continue to work through that experience as long as we let him work through us.

Whatever your facing today, trust God with it. Let him work through you.

My prayer: Lord, there are many times I don’t know why something happens. I can’t explain it. But the true question isn’t “Why, Lord?” The question we should ask is, “How can this be used to further your purpose and plan? How can you use this experience through me?” And so, take those things that I don’t understand and use them through me. Amen.

Until tomorrow.

³ All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. ⁴ Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. ⁵ God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. ⁶ So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. ⁷ He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. ⁸ He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

Count Your Blessings

If you’ve been around The Oil Change for any length of time, you already know this, but for the sake of those who are new to our little group, let me fill you in on how I decide what to write about each day’s passage. Sometimes, the point of the passage is obvious, and I simply dive in. Sometimes, I spend a little time reading through a passage asking God to allow one point to jump out. I often have two or three study Bibles open on my desk to use as reference points. I almost always have multiple translations nearby as I write these.

At first glance, today’s passage seems pretty obvious. Paul is focusing on what Christ did for us and how we have been brought into a family – God’s family.

However, for me, it’s the first line of this passage that really jumps off the page. God has blessed us with all kinds of spiritual blessings. In other words, there are so many different things that we could be thankful to God for. If we just stopped and considered it, we should be amazed at the many ways God has blessed us.

Let me ask you this: are you more focused on what bothers you about something than the many ways you are blessed? In the church you attend, does your energy go into criticizing the things you don’t like rather than celebrate the things that you love about your church? What about with your job? Your city or country?

I think spiritual maturity comes when we are able to walk through the things we don’t like and seek out the stuff we are grateful about. Perhaps it’s because of my role as a pastor that I notice this more than others do. There are times when I shake my head at the criticisms I hear. The stuff that people expend energy complaining about never ceases to amaze me.

Folks: we are blessed! God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing. What a shame if we miss the blessings because we’re focused on the complaints.

My prayer: Lord, forgive me for the critical attitude I can often carry. Sometimes I miss out on the glorious truth right before me: you have adopted me into your family! I am free and forgiven because of what you have done for me. Help me to remain grateful when I want to fall back into criticism. Help me to pray for those who frustrate me. Help me to see my blessings every day. Amen.

Until tomorrow.

¹ This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.

² May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Go Saints!

Now, you might think that my title for today’s Oil Change is a subliminal cheer for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League who just happen to be playing the Minnesota Vikings (and Brett Favre) this weekend in the Conference Championship. You might be right. Maybe.

However, in reality, it’s just the first words that come to mind when I read this passage. You see, in most translations, Paul addresses his letter to “the saints in Ephesus …” In fact, he begins most of his letters that way. The New Living Translation prefers using “God’s holy people in Ephesus …”

But I like the term saints. Perhaps it’s because in the past few hundred years, we’ve taken that term and applied it to very specific people. In order to be classified as a “saint,” you had to meet certain criteria. The average Christian could never be seen as a “saint.”

And yet, it’s exactly what Paul calls every follower of Christ. The moment you turn your life over to God, you are a saint. You are “God’s holy person.” Even as you continue to struggle with sin and battle through temptation, you are still holy … still a saint.

How can that be?

In his simple greeting, Paul is putting meat on a very deep theological truth: you are holy not because of what you do, but because of what Christ did for you. Grace covers our sin and God sees us washed and clean. Free because of the Cross.

Perhaps it’s time we start seeing ourselves the way God does. Just a thought.

My prayer: Lord, thank you for what you did on the cross. It can be so hard for me to see myself the way Paul greets the people of Ephesus, the way you see us even today. A saint? Really? You see me as holy? Help me understand that. Help me believe that. Help me live that out. Amen.

Until tomorrow.

(and Go Saints!)

⁴ For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. ⁵ There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.

Ephesians 4:4-6

Ephesians

Today we begin a new book of the Bible. If you’ve been a part of The Oil Change for awhile, you know that this will be the thirteenth book of the Bible that we have covered (we’ve done a few books twice).

There have been a few times in the past when I wanted to start into this particular book, but decided to go in another direction. Of course, looking back, I believe it had a lot to do with God’s timing. You see, I think now is the perfect time to look at a book that’s primary focus is The Church. And so, I’m very excited about jumping into Ephesians.

Ephesians is another of the books written by Paul. And, as I’ve explained in the past, these “books” were actually letters written by Paul for the church in specific areas. However, it was common for Paul’s letters to be passed around from city to city. This letter, to the church in Ephesus, was no different.

Most scholars believe that the letter was written around A.D. 60, while Paul is in prison in Rome. Paul knew the people of Ephesus, having lived there for approximately three years during one of his earlier missionary trips. It was Paul who started the church in Ephesus.

Over the next few weeks we are going to be challenged with the area of unity within the church. Paul will remind us of what it means to be a Christ follower and the beauty of being part of something far bigger than just one small group of people. The Church is made up of millions of people all around the world. We worship in thousands of different ways in order to effectively reach people from various backgrounds, and yet, we have one purpose: to represent Jesus in a world needing salvation.

So, I hope you enjoy this next study. And, as I always say when we are first starting into a new book, this is the perfect time to forward this devotional to friends and family and encourage them to sign up and enjoy the journey with us.

My prayer: Lord, open my heart over the next few weeks and help me discover again what it means to be part of a glorious church. Amen.

Until tomorrow.