Ephesians 2 - 2.23.26

Scripture

Ephesians 2:8-10 

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Observation

Paul is addressing the Ephesian church by reiterating the Gospel message to them. He starts with their sin condition, their conversion by God’s grace through Jesus Christ and then the privileges that “both converted Jews and Gentiles receive from Christ.” (Reference: biblestudytools.com)

Grace is a FREE gift.

There is nothing we can do to earn God’s favor towards us. It is a free gift (without conditions) that is available to all who would receive it. If we could earn this gift, then we would have a reason to boast about it, but because we cannot work for His favor, the only One we are able to boast about is Jesus Christ! 

Application

We do good works AFTER receiving His grace and Holy Spirit, not before. We are only as strong as our relationship with Jesus is.

I am reminded of the story of Jesus and Nicodemus. This story can be found in John 3.  Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a rule follower who believed that the only way to God was through works, but Jesus explained to him about being born again. He had to be born again by “water and the Spirit” and explained how God’s plan was to send His son to die to save the world from their sins. It had nothing to do with works, like Nicodemus was accustomed to. (The Apostle Paul, writer of Ephesians is very familiar with that way of living also, as a former religious leader and upholder of the law.)

God’s heart is that we put relationship with Jesus before rules. The good works we do as Christ followers is a fruit of our faith relationship with Jesus. 

Prayer

Dear Lord, I pray we would all live in the freedom and enjoyment of being in relationship with You first and allow the rest to follow, by Your Holy Spirit. Thank You that I don’t need to earn my way into favor or relationship with You because You already accomplished that on the Cross. Please forgive me for the many times that I forget that. Please help me to just rest and plug into Your amazing grace and love. Without You, I can do nothing. May You alone be praised and honored You for all that You have done and continue to do in my life. Amen. 

-Michelle Gaddi

Galatians 5 - 2.20.26

Scripture: Galatians 5: 16-18

“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

Observation:

There is a battle going on between the Spirit and the flesh.  They want opposite things. We need to be led by the Spirit. 

In verses 22-23  Paul defines walking in the Spirit and its fruit, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  

One thing I’ve been wondering about is the phrase, “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”  What?  Not under the law?  After the fruit of the Spirit Pauls says, “Against such things there is no law.”  I did some digging for clarity.

Throughout Galatians Paul contrasts law with faith and being led by the Spirit. My Bible has a commentary note for verse 18.  It says “The person who is led by the Spirit will do what is right freely, not by the compulsion of the law.  Thus, he is not under the law’s bondage and condemnation.”  (The Spirit Filled Life Bible, Jack Hayford)  So, this is not saying we don’t have to obey the Ten Commandments and God’s Word.  Instead we surrender to God out of gratefulness for what Jesus did on the cross and that He paid the ultimate price for our sins. Nothing we can do will give us reason to boast or be under bondage. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

If we try to do things in our flesh we will loose the battle.  We are not strong enough.  We will do what we want.  Instead, we have an all-powerful God ready to lead us through the Holy Spirit.  We experience freedom through Christ.

Application:

I need to realize there is a conflict with the Spirit and my flesh. God has the best plan for my life. My flesh desires different things. I know true freedom when I walk with His lead. I don’t have to wonder if the path is correct.  It is sort of like using the GPS when driving somewhere you’ve never been before.  You can trust you are on the right road to your destination because a voice is saying, “Turn here.”

I need to start each day in God’s Word and seeking His direction.  Then, remember to walk in the Spirit throughout my day.

Prayer:

Father God, You are so loving and caring.  We try to do things our way and you gently guide us back.  Or if necessary give us a big wake up call.  Please help me walk daily in your Spirit.  This means saying no to my flesh, the things I desire. Please forgive me for the times I let the flesh control me.  Please help me grow in dedication to you and understanding your purpose for this season of my life.  Help me walk in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self control instead of the law or my flesh.  May I be an example of who you are and the freedom you bring. Amen

- Cindy Howard

Hosea 3. 02.19.26

SCRIPTURE

“The Lord said to me,

“Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress.

Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.”

So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer and a lethek of barley.

Then I told her, “You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will behave the same way toward you.”

‭‭Hosea‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭3 NIV

OBSERVATION

God has called His prophets to do some strange things at times.

God commanded Ezekiel to:

• Lie on his left side for 390 days (for Israel’s sin)

• Lie on his right side for 40 days (for Judah’s sin)

• And told to eat rationed food cooked over cow dung (originally human dung).

God told Jeremiah to:

• Wear a wooden yoke around his neck.

God instructed Isaiah to:

• Walk stripped and barefoot for three years.

And in the account of Hosea

• God told His servant Hosea to marry a prostitute and have children with her.

So Hosea married a prostitute named Gomer. Stop right there and think. A holy man of God is asked to join himself to an unclean woman—and not just an unclean woman who had failed once, but an actual promiscuous woman.

She is unfaithful to him and bears three children—two of which most likely are not Hosea’s.

Then she outright deserts him falling into a web of sexual sin.

She sinks so low that when God tells Hosea to—go after her to bring her back—a fee to purchase her freedom is required. The purchase price is less than half the fee for a slave—reflecting she is—damaged goods.

Still—God tells Hosea to Go after her:

“Love her—the way—God Loves—His Chosen People”

(Hosea 3:1)

APPLICATION

God teaches us about His TRUE and FAITHFUL Love through the book of Hosea.

Learn the Lesson

God tells Hosea to GO back to retrieve his wife who was committing adultery and to Love her. God wanted Hosea’s marriage and redemption of Gomer to be a living lesson for His people—they were unfaithful—BUT—God’s Character was —founded in Love and steadfast faithfulness.

God made a hesed  Covenant with His Chosen People.

Hesed, is a Hebrew word that expresses an essential part of God’s character. God describes Himself as “abounding in” or “filled with” hesed, which translates —unfailing love, faithfulness, loyal, steadfast.

God’s covenant relationship with His people results in His loyal love and faithfulness [hesed], even when His people are unfaithful to Him. Always at the heart of hesed lies God’s generous sense of compassion and mercy.

When God told Hosea to marry a prostitute and have children with her it was God’s merciful act—to WAKE UP Israel. To demonstrate the very real painful effects spiritual adultery was having on their lives and the even more devastating impact it would carry into their children’s lives in future generations.

What has that to do with us??

We may not worship stone idols like baal…but Our idols are very present and consistently vying for our hearts and attention.

Social Media, Entertainment, Secular Music all have such loose boundaries today. Subject Matter that I don’t care to watch pops up on almost every platform, show, and advertisement. Drawing boundary lines around our hearts and minds is at a critical stage because things are only going to progress.

Loving God and choosing to spend time with HIM is a choice. As Pastor Levi has shared on many occasions, relationships take time—growing intimacy is an essential aspect in any relationship. God is always faithful and waiting patiently for us to come spend time with Him. And Jesus wants the First place in our life. Second or Third place.,..isn’t good enough. It is in fact…Spiritual Adultery.

If we are too busy to spend time with God..then it may be time to consider a possible schedule adjustment. Because—Something ELSE is taking first place.

Like Gomer—we were all Once—damaged goods—But Jesus Loved us SO much HE came and PAID the Purchase price for us with His own blood.

Jesus revealed what Ultimate Love truly looks like—when HE came to earth as a Humble servant and lived a perfect life—then sacrificed himself on the cross. Jesus took my punishment that day—and made Full payment for my sins—And—your sins…and anyone else who would willingly RECEIVE His FREE Gift of Forgiveness And Eternal Life.

(1 Peter 1:18-19)

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but you were actually purchased with the precious blood, like that of a sacrificial lamb—the unblemished and spotless—Priceless Blood of Jesus Christ”.  (1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬-19)

Keep the Covenant with God—pure and holy!

(Psalm 119:11)

“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

(1 Peter 5:8)

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

(John‬ ‭14‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

““If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.”

PRAYER

Lord Jesus,

Thank YOU for Your Love that remains Loyal, Fierce, Kind, Generous, AND unfailing. YOU Leave the 99 to Go after the “1”. YOU will Go into the darkest and most destitute places to Purchase back the damaged and Broken. Coming to earth as a humble servant and dying a sinner’s death on the cross to Take my rightful punishment. Lord Jesus, forgive me for the times I was an adulterer—choosing worldly pursuits, hobbies or pleasures above You. Even choosing worry or doubt. YOU Command us “Do Not Worry”. Because of Your very Great Love—I am always provided for. Father, I pray in this season my walk will be one of quick obedience. I pray that if you were ever to ask me to do something strange to demonstrate my Love for YOU…I will set my face as a stone determined to do God’s will. I am constantly reminded of the woman who was simply called to go stand on her head in a convenience store. Who would ever think when she obeyed that the store worker would break down in tears saying I had just prayed to God saying I was done and wanted to end everything..but IF He was real..would HE send someone in here to come and stand on their head.

I Love You Jesus. May my life show my loyal and reckless Love for You.

Here I am Lord. Correct me. Empty me. Fill me. Use me. Send me.

Tina L Kudelka