Scripture:
Ephesians 1:1-23
Sat, 8 April 2023

History and Destiny to the Praise of God’s Glory

Observation:

Why did God choose us in Christ?

Deeper Reflection
Biblical Theologian Don Carson calls the Apostle Paul’s prayer in verses 15 to 23 “a model of how to pray under the sovereignty of God”4. It is important to realise that the prayer flows forth from the praise in verses 3 to 14. Paul’s premise is simple: God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. But God has not blessed us merely for our own benefit, nor merely that we would be a blessing (although these are both right and good). God has blessed us to the praise of His glory (vv.6, 12, 14)!At the beginning, centre and end of all history and destiny is doxology. Praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Conversion is not the end goal; worship is. Adoring praise offered up wholeheartedly, joyfully and perseveringly, by a mature people of God formed in Christ as His eternal possession, His spotless bride, the body for which Christ is the head. A people for whom God has exerted His incomparably great power with which He also raised Christ from the dead (vv.19-20).The convergence of history and destiny is seen in verse 10. On Thursday, we saw how God sent Jesus Christ in the fullness of time. Here in verse 10, we see that there is another time that God has predetermined. A time when everything will reach their fulfilment, bringing unity to “all things” in heaven and on earth under God’s Messiah, to the praise of God’s glory!Let these truths ring in your heart as you listen to this song by Bob Kauflin and Tim Chester of Sovereign Grace MusicClick this to listen to the song.
4 D.A. Carson, Praying with Paul: A Call to Spiritual Reformation, 2nd Edition (Baker Academic, 2014), 147.
Application:

How can I grow in my knowledge and worship of God, and help my family and
CG members do the same?

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: For spiritual wisdom and revelation to know the hope of God’s calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance and the greatness of His power for them
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self
 

Download this Building Fund QR Code  and upload it to your banking app via your gallery/album. 

Download this General Fund for East QR Code  and upload it to your banking app via your gallery/album. 

Download this General Fund for WDL QR Code  and upload it to your banking app via your gallery/album. 

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
 

Download this New Life Fund QR Code  and upload it to your banking app via your gallery/album. 

Download this General Fund for BPJ QR Code  and upload it to your banking app via your gallery/album. 

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.