Scripture:
Ephesians 1:3-14
Sat, 17 December 2022

B.L.E.S.S. and Bless the Lord Because You Have Been Blessed

Observation:

What are the “spiritual blessings in the heavenly places” (v.3) that Paul lists
in this passage?

Deeper Reflection
IT’S EASY FOR B.L.E.S.S. OR ANY OTHER EVANGELISM strategy or tool, to become a mere church programme. We sometimes end up doing B.L.E.S.S. out of a spirit of compulsion: because our leaders nag us to. Or worse, we may end up doing B.L.E.S.S. out of a spirit of competition: we think we can earn brownie points before God and pat ourselves on the back because we are more diligent in evangelising than “that Christian brother or sister over there”. We forget that salvation is from first to last a gift from the Lord and not a work of man.The antidote to compulsion and competition is to return frequently to the glorious truth that we ourselves have been BLESSED by God in Christ (v.3). This is not a banal or basic truth; we can spend the rest of our lives – and eternity – discovering its depths. The blessings are abundant! God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before Him (v.4). That means you and I were chosen, before we had any conscious existence (and way before we could respond to Him) to be God’s own special possession! Also, in Christ we have redemption through His blood and the forgiveness of our trespasses (v.7). What a wonder it is to remember that God has forgiven us, and continues to forgive us, though we fail again and again. The only rational response to God’s blessing is to join the Psalmist in exuberant praise: bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! (Psa 103:1)
Application:

Sing a song of praise to the Lord for all His blessings that have been given to
you in Christ.

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for Church Board: To be full of the joy of the Lord as they serve, because we are richly blessed in Christ
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 6:1-10
Wed, 7 June 2023

Consistent Daily Devotion to God

Observation:

What does verse 10 tell us about Daniel?

Deeper Reflection
For Daniel’s distinguishing competency and character, and commitment to ensuring that the king suffered no loss in his empire, Darius “planned to appoint” him “over the entire kingdom” (v.3). But out of jealousy, Daniel’s fellow-commissioners and the satraps attempted to accuse him of “negligence or corruption” in “government affairs” (v.4a). They could find nothing, because Daniel was “faithful” (v.4b). So, they planned to make accusation against him “with regard to the law of his God” (v.5). And they maliciously instigated Darius to establish a law that “anyone who makes a petition to any god or man” besides the king “for thirty days, shall be cast into the lion’s den” (vv.6-9).Then, “when Daniel knew that the document was signed…he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously” (v.10). This was Daniel’s spiritual discipline with a structure of regular “three times a day”. He kept it daily. We can say that Daniel never missed his quiet time. The most important words in the verse may be “when Daniel knew that the document was signed”. They indicate the context of Daniel’s spiritual discipline: A discipleship challenge where his life was at stake. Daniel’s spiritual discipline was no mere religious ritual and routine. He could have skipped his quiet time “for thirty days” and be safe. He didn’t. Daniel’s spiritual discipline manifested his consistent daily devotion to “his God”: “he continued…three times a day…as he had been doing previously.” At the heart of this spiritual discipline was Daniel’s relationship and fellowship with “his God”.
Application:

How can I cultivate a consistent daily devotion to God?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for leaders
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for the Generations: That young people will seek to be devoted to God consistently
  • Pray for self
 

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