Seated at the Table ( Accepted and Loved)

This morning  I was sitting drinking tea and reading "Seated with Christ" by Heather Holleman.  My finite mind was trying to grasp  the truth that God has "raised" me up and "seated" me  in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:6).

I am seated with Christ in the Heavenly places.  I have a seat at the table of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  My mind says this is true, while my heart is struggle with, "I believe help my unbelief!" As I was trying to embrace the concept of "being seated with Christ", my "little girl" insecurities came to the surface and I honestly told the Lord that I needed to feel loved. I didn't feel worthy of the heavenly seat and I was having a hard time fully accepting the truth that I have a seat at the table of the King.

I reread Ephesians 2:6 and this quote from "Seated with Christ":

 "I am uniquely called, uniquely contributing and uniquely loved just like everyone else at the table. I can cease comparing myself to others. Nobody's inferior. Nobody's superior. We're on a mission together, and we're too busy serving a great King to bother with comparison and self-consciousness."

As the truth of realizing that God has seated me in the heavenly places with Himself, it "hit" me, that God's love for me was big. I don't have to compare myself with others and wonder how I can get him to love me more. His love is big enough for me, just as it is big enough for everyone else. He has enough love  to satisfy my need, as well as enough love to satisfy the need of each person. My Heavenly Daddy won't  ever run out of love!

I didn't have to try and get His approval and to make myself "worthy".  He already had placed his approval on me and made we worthy, through saving me by His grace in Christ Jesus my Lord.

Ephesians 2  continues to say that God has "prepared" good works for us in Christ Jesus.  This is another truth that needs to go down deep within me, to the core.  God already has good works for me to do and I don't have to fight for my place on the team.  He has a place for me; I just need to follow His lead and I will accomplish what He has called me to do. He has a calling and work for each of His children.

When I stop running around trying to accomplish what I think needs to be done and I just sit down, spend time listening to His word, I begin to hear His voice clearer.  My soul calms down and I rest in the knowledge that He will accomplish His work in me for this day.

(Abba Father, precious Jesus, Help us to understand what it means to be seated in the heavenly places with you. Give us a greater understanding of your love for us. May your truths change the way that we see ourselves,others and especially You.  Thank you for your love for us.  Thank you for the hope that we have now and the hope for the future when we see you face to face.  May we listen to Your Spirit and follow your lead.  Amen)

Ephesians 2:4-6 "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been save-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,"

Good News for the New Year

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”  John 3:16-17

John chapter three, verse sixteen is a well-known scripture and a simple and valuable truth. Many people are making New Year’s resolutions to be healthier or to do something of consequence and value in the upcoming year.  They want to find something to “hold on to”, something that makes a positive change in their lives.  As we start a New Year, the hope of the Good News of salvation through Christ is for all who believe in him. This is something of value to “hold on to” that will make a difference in our lives.

 Every year people make resolutions to change for the better. What could be more important than focusing on what is of eternal value and what will truly last beyond this coming year?  2018 will have its enjoyable moments as well as its trials and struggles, just as there were in 2017.

We can either decide to “seize the day” and just live for the moment, hoping for things to change for the best, or we can live each moment for eternity, which will make a change for our best.   In I Corinthians 15 the apostle Paul reminds the Corinthians of what is really important and what they need to “hold onto”, in the midst of their lives and every day struggles.

“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.”  I Cor. 15: 1-2

These people in Corinth had received, believed and were saved, by the Good News of Christ death and resurrection for their sins.  They needed to “hold onto” that truth and keep moving forward in their faith in Christ, so that it could continue to make a change in their lives.

The Good News is only useful for those who receive it, believe it and hold onto it.  If you don’t make it a part of your life, how can it change you?  It can’t, but to all who believe in Christ’s redeeming power through his death and resurrection, it is a power for salvation that lasts beyond 2018 into eternity.

If you have a relationship with Jesus, keep “holding on to him” because he is faithful to “hold onto you” and you have hope for this year and beyond.  If you don’t have the eternal hope of Christ in your heart, then I hope and pray that you will take a step of faith and believe the Good News that Jesus died for your sins, he was buried, he rose again on the third day and he is still alive and saving people today!

(Father God in heaven, thank you for the eternal hope that we have in Christ Jesus our Lord! Lord Jesus, give us the grace to hold fast onto you and the hope we have in you. May we share the hope of  the Good News with others this year, so they too can receive a hope that changes them internally for eternity.  Amen)