From:
Date: October 7, 2019
Subject: It's October 7; Good Morning Union


“I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.”         Ephesians 1:16

Paul was writing to the believers in the city of Ephesus in western, in what is today Turkey, on the shores of the Aegean Sea. He was reflecting on the words of encouragement he had been receiving about them, probably from travelers or messengers who were visiting him while he was in a Roman prison. That setting might have tempted me to pray for myself, but not Paul! He was still praying for the people whom God had allowed him to bring to a knowledge of Jesus.

I find his message encouraging as I apply it to my life as well. So what did he pray for SO THAT I can identify things I can pray for as well as I remember the people that God has brought into my life, especially here at Union. Here’s what I found:

  1. “I keep asking,” says Paul. I was reminded of the value of perseverance in prayer.
  2. “That God would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.” I was reminded of the ease to which I revert back to asking for good grades, a good job, a new car, or some other material possession, at the expense sometimes of praying for God’s wisdom and revelation to guide my life in the things that are important to Him.
  3. “SO THAT you may know Him better.” I was reminded that the ultimate ideal goal of prayer is not to get what I want but to get to know HIM better.
  4. “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened SO THAT you may know
  1. The hope to which you have been called
  2. The riches of his glorious inheritance
  3. And the incomparably great power for us who believe.” I was reminded that prayer is about understanding God and HIS will for me more than Him understanding everything I want. He already knows what I need; do I understand what He needs?

Hope, riches and power—not mine—HIS!! He wants me to trust Him completely; that’s the hope. He wants me to start to grasp all that He has in store for me; that’s HIS riches. And he wants me to understand HIS great power available to me to keep looking forward and not back. What can his power do for me? Am I a sinner saved by grace, where the subject of the sentence is “sinner?” Or am I a child of God who has been delivered from the power of sin, where the subject of the sentence is “child” of God? Where is my focus? I was reminded that it is my privilege, because of Jesus, to live looking forward to all God has for me. And guess what? I believe He has the same potential for you.

Have a great day looking forward with Jesus,

Pastor Rich

 

Quote for the day:      “Always check the quality of your cocaine with vinegar…. “if it makes a volcano it's baking soda. If it doesn't your drugs are ruined... either way, you win!!”