Daily Devotions based on the Sermon Series: “Thoroughly Equipped”
Week 3 of 4: “Faith that Defines Us!”
Full Sunday message: CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: Five Blessings of Faith!
God has so many good things to give to us.
Faith is the connection between God’s heart and ours. In Sunday’s message (Click the link above to listen to the full message if you missed it), I shared the example of faith being the needle that delivers the vaccine to the body of the individual. The vaccine is all the good things God desires us to have. The needle or faith is the unsung hero that delivers those good things to us. It too is a gift from God.
In this week’s devotion, I’d like to point out five blessings of faith that perhaps we don’t realize or have forgotten based on the opening words of Ephesians 1:15-23. See if you find five.
Ephesians 1:15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
The first blessing of faith is that it gives us a reason to give thanks. Paul lists “faith in the Lord Jesus” as a reason to “not stop giving thanks.” Paul was overjoyed that many in the city of Ephesus had put their trust in Jesus.
The OBJECT of their faith was in the right place. They didn’t believe in a nebulous god. They didn’t just believe in something they had no knowledge of. They put their trust, their faith in Jesus.
Faith gave the Ephesians a reason to give thanks. Faith gives every person who has faith in Jesus a reason to give thanks. Why? Because faith is the means by which God personally connects us to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. What we could not do on our own, is done for us by Jesus.
Faith gave Paul a reason to give thanks. Paul was overjoyed to see the power of the Gospel at work in the hearts of the Ephesians. It gave him great joy to see that the Word worked. He was so grateful that faith was also leading them to have a “love for all the saints.” Faith worked and faith at work!
Faith gives each of us a reason to give thanks. Sunday’s message pointed out three reasons based on Romans 3:21-26 and Galatians 3:26. Faith defines us as righteous…because of Jesus we are perfect, completely right. Faith defines us as justified…because of Jesus we are declared not guilty. Faith defines us as a child of God…because of Jesus we are part of the family of God.
In just over a week, we as a nation will observe a day of Thanksgiving. Don’t forget to include in your list of things for which to give thanks, your faith in Jesus. Faith is a wonderful gift God has given to you to TRUST that Jesus is your Savior!
Apply: Make a list of the blessings that have come to you because God has given you faith in Jesus. Take time to thank God for each of the blessings he gives you.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the gift of faith that leads me to trust you for all that I need to spend an eternity with you. AMEN.