King James Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Little by Little
For: December 03, 2010
Chapters: Ephesians 1-3
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-december-3

Details of Today's Chapters: Believers predestined, His inheritance, saved by grace, a habitation of God, fellow heirs, and the love of Christ.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
As Christians who were brought up in the world I imagine there are times where we all stop and think about our lives before Christ. Maybe you feel a little regret for some of the things you got into or allowed to happen in your life and wish that you would have had Christ in our life back then. Amazingly enough, He was, you just did not know it. Little by little Christ was working in you and getting you ready for a life with Him in it. Jesus Said, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” - John 15:16.

The Book of Ephesians is the tenth book of the New Testament, the forty-ninth book of the Bible, and contains 6 chapters. This epistle was written by the apostle Paul to the church at Ephesus. The purpose of the letter was to inform believers of their wealth in Christ and instruct them concerning their walk in Christ. What we are to learn from the book is that all Christ's believers are heirs to both the blessings (the wealth) and the responsibilities (the walk) of their calling in Christ. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” - Ephesians 2:10.

The Book of Ephesians is probably the best book you can read to explain why we go through so much before we get saved. In fact, Paul is the greatest example and testimony of how someone who was brought up to hate Christ and persecuted Christians can turn his life around for Christ. The Holy Spirit led Paul to write, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved...In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” - Ephesians 1:4-6,11-13.

You see, Jesus already knew what you would be doing with your life before and after you chose to accept Him into it. He even chose the exact time you would find out that He was what you needed all along. Why? It's all about timing, Jesus waits until you are going to be committed to Him before He trusts you with His gift. The truth is this, thousands of people get saved, but very few care less about living their lives for Christ. That is why He had to strengthen you, grow you, and wait until you were ready to serve Him with all your heart. “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” - Matthew 5:8.

Paul reminds us of where we were before we knew Christ and why we know Him today. “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” - Ephesians 2:2-6.

We can praise God that we were able to overcome every single foolish thing we did before we knew Christ and even the ones to come. Praise God! When we walk with Christ we lose the desire to do the things we use to love to do in the world. Once in a while I will watch an old movie that I probably watched over and over again only to turn it off wondering why I ever watched it. Many of the clothes I use to wear I would not think of wearing now. I do not think I even talk to any of the people I thought were my friends before I knew Christ. Christ changes us for the better, he gets rid of all the things that cause unnecessary suffering, temptation, and shame and replaces it with hope, joy, and peace. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” - John 14:27.

As I was reading these chapters something got my attention, many people question whether or not God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one. Well, we are one in the same, when we accept Christ as our Savior, God dwells in us through the Holy Spirit, now we are not only one with Christ, we are heirs with Christ, brothers and sisters. On top of that we are no longer strangers, but a part of the Kingdom of God. Paul confirms this, “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” - Ephesians 2:19-22. Within us is God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit all molded together into a child of the living God saved by grace. “And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.” - Romans 9:26. Praise God!

Be blessed, enjoy the rest of your day/night and have an awesome weekend.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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