April 23, 2019
Good Morning Fellow Travelers,
Read: Ephesians 2:1 – 22
“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.” Ephesians 2:3
The days of our youthful lives began as this chapter begins, with a walk that was according to the course of this world. We were led by the prince of darkness, that spirit that now works freely in the world. That walk was fleshly and under the wrath of God.
But that all changed when God, full of mercy and love, saved us by grace. Think of it – we, dead in sins then, were made alive with Christ, and made to sit together in Him, in heavenly places. Now He literally pours into the days of our lives, the exceeding riches of His grace. Amazing grace! Our days are now His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus.
Imagine that I had painted a beautiful painting and you desired that painting, and because we were friends, I would give you that painting. Without doubt, you would probably ask that I would autograph it. If I thought it was worthy to claim, I no doubt would do that for you.
Our days are the workmanship of Christ. Can He autograph those days? Will He be willing to write His signature across the days of our lives gladly? Is your life really and truly His creation? Or are our lives so full of serving self and sin that He would be reluctant to put His signature there? This will surely depend on whether we are choosing to let Christ live His life in us. Then our lives would be worthy of His claim.
When He, the master painter, applies His brush to my day, and brushes on the dark hue of a besetting affliction will we still be worthy of His signature? Yes, we will, if we yield ourselves to Him, just as much as when He paints a sunny yellow blend of happy gifts. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way” (Psalm 37:23).
As temples of the living God, as those who have genuinely become the habitation of the Holy Spirit, we are worthy.
— James Baer
