Be An Epaphras

Do you have a prayer warrior in your life? You need one. Better yet, you should be one. The believers in Colossae had a man named Epaphras as a prayer warrior. He “wrestled” in prayer for them. 

Earlier this summer, my wife and I had a group of young people over to watch the movie War Room. If you have not seen that movie, you should. It highlights the power and importance of prayer. 

When is the last time you wrestled in prayer for someone, even if that someone was you? Prayer moves the hand of God on behalf of believers and seekers. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Colossians 4:12

12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.

Today’s Reading:

Colossians 4

Raised With Christ

This passage is a good reminder of who we serve. It’s not difficult to lose sight of what is important. This is why we must be in our Bible daily!

As we read our Bible, we begin to better understand the heart of God. 

When we understand the heart of God, a statement like “raised with Christ, does not negatively affect our walk.

Since we have been raised with Christ, let us walk faithfully with Him. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Colossians 3:1-4

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Today’s Reading:

Colossians 3

Deceived!

In America, we have so many freedoms that as Christians we are easily deceived. Reading this chapter of Colossians, I am reminded of the countless philosophies I’ve heard from well meaning American Christians. “God wants me to be happy,” “God knows my heart,” and my personal “favorite,” “My relationship with God is personal between me and Him. I don’t need to go to church.”

The deception is real. Have you fallen victim? Take time out of your busy schedule to see where God is prioritized in your life. If you do an honest assessment, you may be surprised at the results. 

Have you been deceived? Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Colossians 2:6-7

6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Today’s Reading:

Colossians 2

Continue In Your Faith

Every second of every day you have the opportunity to turn from God or continue in your faith. I’m sure it doesn’t seem like it, but it’s true. 

You make decisions constantly. Many of which you barely think about, you simply decide and move on. This includes the words you say, the places you go, what you watch, what you listen to, etc. Endless decisions with “eternal” consequences, yet, you put little to no thought into these decisions. 

Here’s the good news, if you have the mind of Christ, those decisions will honor Him. So the question of the day is, “Do you have the mind of Christ.”

Take time today to meditate on that question. Allow the Holy Spirit to identify areas in your life that do not honor God; areas in which you are not continuing in your faith. When the Holy Spirit shows you these areas, release them from your life. They offer you no support and they pull you from Christ. 

GET RID OF THEM!

Remember, “And without faith, it is impossible to please God…” (Heb 11:6) Make sure you continue in your faith! Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Colossians 1:21-23

21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Today’s Reading:

 Colossians 1

My Heart

Over the past thirteen years I have been blessed to send these texts to you. Some of you have been here from the beginning, while others have been receiving these only for a few months. 

Regardless of the length of time you’ve received this daily text, please know that it’s my heart’s desire to help you as you seek to know God better through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

This passage sums up well how I feel about each of you. 

Take your walk with Christ seriously. It is not a side hustle. It is the only thing that matters. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Philippians 4:8-9

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Today’s Reading:

Philippians 4

On The Basis Of Faith

Most people want to have a good image. We do things to our appearance, we seek formal education, and many other things designed to help us have a good reputation. 

In today’s chapter, Paul says all of that is garbage compared to knowing Christ. Do you feel that way? Are you holding on to ideas or past accomplishments because you think it gives you the right image? 

If your honest answer is yes, then heed Paul’s words in this chapter. Put the pursuit of Christ and knowing Him at the top of your priorities. In Christ, you will have a righteousness found in no other thing. You can only have this through faith in Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross for the forgiveness of your sin. 

Seeking to know God through any other avenue is pointless and will end in failure. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Philippians 3:7-9

7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

Today’s Reading:

Philippians 3

A Mind Like Christ’s

I hear people say, “I want to be like Jesus.” When I see them live their life, their actions are not in line with their words. A more appropriate saying would be, “I want people to tell me I’m like Jesus without me needing to live like Him.”

In this chapter of Philippians, Paul says we are to have the mind of Christ. Then he lists attributes of Jesus that American Christians struggle with living. Our Constitutional freedoms conflict with our Christian freedoms and we like those better. 

Paul says we must humble ourselves and consider others better than us. That’s a show stopper for some people. But when you look at the life of Jesus, there’s no way you can justify not treating others well. Jesus had no sin, yet He took the cost of our sin on Himself. How, then, can you justify acting like people owe you something when you owe your right relationship with God to Jesus? You can’t, so don’t try. 

Live a humble life in Christ. He paid a steep price to give you that opportunity. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Philippians 2:1-4

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded,having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Today’s Reading:

Philippians 2

Memorize, Then Live It

The first passage of scripture that I remember my daughter reciting from memory is Ephesians 6:1-4. Thinking about that brought this thought to my mind. Christians emphasize memorizing scripture, but they do not always emphasize LIVING scripture. 

As a father, I lost track of the number of times I failed at living out Ephesians 6:4. Ego, lack of wisdom, and other things clouded my ability to raise my child in the way she should go. (Proverbs 22:6)

Fortunately, by the grace of God, she turned out better than alright. Probably because of her mother’s influence. 

The reality is, that’s no way to parent, nor live in general. The Psalmist writes in 119:11 that he has “hidden (the) word in (his) heart that he might not sin against (God).” 

Your obedience is made possible by memorizing God’s Word, then living it out. 

Take time today to meditate on how much scripture you both know and live. The goal is to live all that you know and to seek to know all that there is. Tough? Yes! Possible in Christ? Absolutely YES! Don’t wait, start hiding the Word in your heart right now! Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Ephesians 6:1-4

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” 4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children;instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Today’s Reading:

Ephesians 6

That Was You, It’s Not You

One of the most difficult things for Christians to do is leave their past behind. We hold our transgressions over our head as if God didn’t forgive them fully. We act is if God’s complete forgiveness is for others but not for us. 

That is a lie, probably from the enemy. God’s forgiveness most certainly applies fully to your life. 

The first seven verses of Ephesians chapter five paint a tough picture of living wrong. However, he starts the next section with words of hope. “For you were once darkness…” This is a clear indication that all you’ve done is in the past and now you can walk in the light of Jesus Christ. 

What lie are you telling yourself to keep you holding your past over your head? Stop saying it. Better yet, stop believing it. In Christ, you are forgiven completely. God has chosen to remember your transgressions no more. So should you. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Ephesians 5:8-10

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness,righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord.

Today’s Reading:

Ephesians 5

The Importance of a Foothold

After reading this passage I had a thought, “how important is a foothold.” So I asked Google. This is the response:

“A foothold is important because it provides a secure and advantageous position from which to make further progress.”

The last part, “to make further progress,” jumped off the screen to me. Think about the enemy’s goal, “to steal, kill, and destroy.” In order for him to do that he must first gain access to you. Therefore, he prowls around like a roaring lion seeking (a foothold). That’s how he’s able to devour you. 

As you go about your life today, be aware of your actions. Make sure you do not give the enemy a foothold because he won’t stop there. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Ephesians 4:27

27 and do not give the devil a foothold.

Today’s Reading:

Ephesians 4

Understanding Brings Power

I cannot count the number of times I’ve read and quoted from Ephesians chapter three. I regularly use verse twenty as a reminder that sometimes we have multiple good decisions to make. In that time I encourage people to choose and trust God. 

However, this morning, God opened my eyes to the meaning of verses sixteen thru nineteen. Paul prays for believers to understand the breath of God’s love for us. Understanding that love brings an ability for us to walk in a way that brings honor and glory to God. This must be our pursuit. Nothing else matters. 

As you go about your day, make sure you are seeking to understand how wide, long, high, and deep the Father’s love for us is. That understanding will bring you a power to overcome whatever the enemy throws at you. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Ephesians 3:16-19

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Today’s Reading:

Ephesians 3

But God…

Can you testify that your life would look way different, “but God” who is rich in mercy stepped in and saved you from destruction? 

I can!! I need to raise both of my hands and my feet! 

The truth is, we all owe our continued existence to God. His mercy sustains us. When we do what we want, against His word and we remain alive, that’s by His grace. 

Paul writes in Romans 6:23 that the wages of sin is death. Our sin condemns us.

Read that last sentence again!

Be thankful for God’s mercy. Allow Him to use your story to bring others to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. 

Yes, you were once “drowning” in sin, but you’re not now! Go tell someone your story. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Ephesians 2:4-7 (NKJV)

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Today’s Reading:

Ephesians 2

A Righteous Prayer

The Apostle Paul was a man who had a passion for God. Initially we meet him while his passion for God was less than righteous. He persecuted believers in the Way. He approved of the killing of these believers. In short, righteousness in Jesus Christ was not Paul’s calling card. 

Then the Lord gets a hold of his heart and that same passion for God gets pointed in the right direction. Paul’s heart was rightly focused on others and their relationship with Jesus. As we read the book of Ephesians, we are going to see how much Paul loved and cared for people. His words to the Ephesians are words that we would do well to echo to others as we seek Jesus daily. 

For whom can you pray a righteous prayer today? Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Ephesians 1:15-17

15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

Today’s Reading:

Ephesians 1

Life’s Slippery Slope

An often misquoted scripture is “judge not, lest ye be judged.” Most people use that scripture to tell someone not to point out their shortcomings. I imagine it “frees” their conscience from the conviction they get from someone pointing out their shortcoming. 

And then we read Galatians 6:1. How can you gently restore a brother or sister from the sin they were caught in, if you do not acknowledge the sin? That’s the sticking point. We do not want people pointing out our sin so we hide behind, “judge not lest ye be judged.”

That is a slippery slope that we must steer clear of. If you do not have people in your life who are able to point out your sin without you getting upset, you’re headed for destruction. 

I promise you we ALL have moments in our lives where we need someone to say, “hey, let’s have a conversation about this thing you’re doing/did.”

Be careful not to take a stand that will keep you in sin because your ego will not allow you to listen when your brother or sister seeks to gently restore you. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Galatians 6:1

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

Today’s Reading:

Galatians 6

Live By The Spirit

First, Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers. I pray you feel special on this day. 

In this life, we have two options, live to please the flesh or live to please the Spirit. These options are our choice. 

Galatians 5 gives us a clear picture of how we should live and who we should follow. As you look at your life, are you a person who crucifies their flesh daily? Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Galatians 5:24-26

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Today’s Reading:

Galatians 5

Isaac & Ishmael

While reading Galatians 4, God opened my eyes to something I had not noticed before. Isaac and Ishmael are a picture of the fight we wage daily. 

Ishmael represents the fleshly desires that seem to overtake us. These are the desires we have that go against the Word and will of God. The sad part is, most of the time, we know this is something we should not do, yet there we are powering through anyway. 

Isaac represents the Spirit Man. Isaac is the fulfillment of God’s promise. This is the life God has called us to. One in which we seek Him first and follow His commandments. Our obedience is the sign of our love. 

It comes down to this: are you going to live an Ishmael life or an Isaac life? If you put your hands in the air and say, “I don’t know,” you’re choosing the Ishmael life. The only way to live the Isaac life is to purposefully choose God. You cannot accidentally choose God. Like my friend Ashlee Combee said on The Agape Leaders Podcast, the default is hell (Ishmael). 

Choose the Isaac life. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Galatians 4:21-23

21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law,are you not aware of what the law says? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23 His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.

Today’s Reading:

Galatians 4

From The Beginning

Galatians 3 got me thinking. From the beginning, God has always wanted us to live by faith. He established one law and Adam and Eve broke it. How much less could we keep the 613 laws established in the Torah? 

Our faith is what we must rely on as we live for God. There will be plenty of unanswered questions. There will be seasons of life that we wonder how God will get us through. Seasons where friends who love the Lord were not healed and passed away. We will have questions that seem like they should be answered, yet we will sit in silence with no answer coming. Living like this requires faith. 

In these times we must remember in whom we have placed our faith. Our faith is in the God of the universe; the One who created EVERYTHING. I’m confident that He has more than earned our faith. 

As you live by faith, trusting God in all circumstances, your impact for Christ will increase. God is looking for people who love Him and want to live according to His purpose. Are you that person? Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Galatians 3:7-10

7 Understand, then, that those who have faithare children of Abraham. 8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”

Today’s Reading:

Galatians 3

Crucified With Christ

Galatians 2:20 is a popular verse in which Paul declares that he has been crucified with Christ. He says the life he is living is no longer his, but it has been surrendered to the life Christ called us to live by faith. 

Is that the way you are living? Is the grace of God the engine that drives your faith? God’s grace means we receive the salvation that we neither deserve nor earned. When that has been freely given to you, why would you do things that are contrary to the life God has called us to live. A life that was modeled by Jesus. 

Take time, today, to be alone with God. Remove all noise and ask Him if you are living by faith through grace or if you are living the life you believe you deserve. Listen for His answer and respond well. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Galatians 2:20-21

20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

Today’s Reading:

Galatians 2

Respond Well To The Gospel

The Greek word used for “gospel” is euangelion, which is translated “good news.” Think about how you respond to good news. You’re happy! If there’s something that you must do as a result of the good news, you do it. 

When we receive the gospel of Jesus Christ, we have just received the best news ever given. Yet, people do not receive it with joy. 

Paul is writing this book of the Bible to the people of Galatia. Initially, they received the good news well. However, false teaching confused them and they began to fall away from their belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

That can easily be you or me. That’s why it is important to put God first in everything we do. Put Him first in the morning. Put Him first in our day. Put Him first when we go to bed. 

Our lives should be so saturated with God that we will easily recognize when someone or something tries to pull us away. If we are not at that point, someone or something WILL pull us away. 

Never forget, our adversary, the devil, is prowling around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Don’t be the devouree! Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Galatians 1:6-8

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!

Today’s Reading:

Galatians 1

God Exalts The Humble

If you are looking for an example to follow, look no further than the life of Mordecai. He was a man of high character. He did the right thing no matter what. He followed God and cared about people. 

James writes that if we humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, He will lift us up. This is what God did for Mordecai. Since God is not a respecter of man, He will do the same for you if you humble yourself. 

The “funny” thing is, it’s that simple, yet we make it so difficult. We put confidence in the wrong thing and convince ourselves of a humility we have that does not exist.

Take time out of your day and have those tough conversations with yourself. You know the truth. Allow God to prune you into the person He has called you to be. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Esther 10:3

3 Mordecai the Jew was second in rankto King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.

Today’s Reading:

Esther 10