The Look
As a child, do you recall hearing these words: “wait ‘till your dad gets home”? What will the punishment be? Nothing brought more fear or trepidation except “the look” ... followed by the words, “I’m so disappointed.” Ugh. As a child those words are utterly devastating. As adults, we understand that they come out of a deep longing for our children to obey, not in order to some how attain perfection, but because that is what’s best for them!
Ephesians 4:28-30 says, Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
The NLT expands verse 30 with: Remember, he has identified you as his own. Paul is telling us to not forget our identity! This identity is clarified in Ephesians 1:3-14. This is who God created you to be — not a thief or a slanderer — but a holy child of the King, sealed by the Holy Spirit.
Charles Spurgeon affirms, “Although the word ‘grieve’ is a painful one, there is honey in the rock; for it is an inexpressibly delightful thought, that he who rules heaven and earth, and is the creator of all things, and the infinite and ever blessed God, condescends to enter into such infinite relationships with his people that his divine mind may be affected by their actions. What a marvel that Deity should be said to grieve over the faults of beings so utterly insignificant as we are! The Spirit would not be the Spirit of truth if he could approve of that which is false in us: he would not be pure if that which is impure in us did not grieve him.”
Are you grieving the Holy Spirit? Are you living with the burden of unconfessed sin? 1 John 1:9 offers the solution: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
God’s “look” at our sin is not one of disdain, but rather sadness and compassion. He longs for us to live in the freedom that comes from obedience to him. Although not always easy, his ways are perfect, full of grace and abounding in love.
LIVE THE STORY: Is there something that God is calling you to confess? Start by confessing your sin to God then ask him to give you the strength to ask for forgiveness from the person you have wronged. God promises to forgive, and the truth will set you free!
For further study, reflect on Galatians 5:13-26.
Lynette Fuson
Women’s Ministry Director
The Devil's Foothold
Over Christmas break we visited my family back in Colorado. We love getting outdoors and hiking, but because it waswinter and snowy, we had to find indoor activities to entertain us. One thing we did was go to a rock-climbing gym and while climbing the wall, I was reminded of how important it is to find the right footholds. Where we placed our feet in the holds either allowed us to scale the wall or led to our downfall (quite literally).
When Paul writes to the Ephesian church, he uses this same “foothold” imagery. Listen to what he wrote in Ephesians 4:26-27 ... In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Do not give the devil a foothold. The picture Paul is painting is of a place that the devil feels very comfortable. An environment he can flourish in.
When people talk about spiritual warfare, they tend to go to the extreme and the phenomenal. However, in this passage, Paul claims that one of the ways we fend off the devil’s activity in our lives is by refusing to hold onto our anger. Forgiveness is one of the ways we engage in spiritual warfare, and bitterness is one of the things that creates an environment within our soul where the devil feels at home. The devil finds a foothold to scale the scaffolding of your life through anger.
Most of the time I’m angry, I feel justified in my anger. I have a tendency to think that my anger is “righteous anger.” Some of it may be, but what if our initial reaction was always to assume that our anger was something to be let go of, rather than held on to? The call from Paul to the Ephesian church is clear: if you
hold onto your anger, the devil holds onto you and makes your life a living hell.
LIVE THE STORY: As we journey with Jesus toward the cross and resurrection, today’s practice is simple: identify areas of anger in your life. Don’t just look for the exuberant outbursts, pay attention to the subtle complaining and the rhythms of your heart. When you identify your anger, the invitation is to confess it by naming it in front of Jesus, and then to repent from it, which means that we change our mind and decide that holding that anger isn’t the way to abundant life.
Ryan Paulson
Lead Pastor
Out With the Old - in With the New
If you’re near my phone when my daughter calls, you’ll see her contact picture, a throwback to her toddler years. In the photo she’s staring perplexed at her hands, disturbed to see they are covered in bright pink cake frosting. She clearly has no idea that the same pink goo is not just on her hands, but all over her face, too. From her viewpoint, only her hands need to be cleaned.
Don’t we do that? Sometimes in our Christian walk we want to just wash our hands to feel clean. We want the list of dos and don’ts because it’s like spiritually cleaning our hands, doing the bare minimum. We don’t realize that we not only have dirt on our hands: We’ve smeared it all over our face, gobbled it up and internalized it. We need more than just some surface-level cleaning.
That’s why in Ephesians 4 and 5, amid the list of dos and don’ts, every few verses we’re reminded it’s not really about the external acts — it’s about what’s on the inside. As 1 Samuel 16:7 says, Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.
Romans 12:2 (NLT) says, Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.
Christianity isn’t like other rule-based religions. Christianity is about developing a love relationship with the Lord, where we let him not just cleanse us externally but completely transform us. Our obedience to him becomes an outflowing of our love for him.
One of the amazing things about the Christian walk is that God never requires us to do anything in our own strength. It’s through his power that we live out the love of Christ as instructed in Ephesians. He is the one who renews our thoughts and attitudes. He is the one who transforms us. He is the one who cleans us from the inside out. We just need to be willing.
LIVE THE STORY: In what ways do you need God to throw off your old self and put on the new self?
Lord help me see when I’m just washing my spiritual hands and not allowing you to fully transform me. Help me completely throw off my old sinful nature and let your Spirit renew my thoughts and attitudes, putting on my new nature, created to be like you—truly righteous and holy.
Cyndie Claypool de Neve
Senior Creative Director
Lost In My Mind
What does the statement, “Fake it 'til you make it,” make you think or feel?
After college, I sat in a training for a new job with 40 people and the “fake it” mantra was given to us. Essentially, we were being told, you don’t know what you’re doing, so just pretend you do and hope it works!!! In all transparency, I have done this in my faith along with past jobs.
Paul gave a strong warning to the church in Ephesians 4:17-19. Paul was explaining that people who had not given their life to Christ were just giving their hearts and minds to bad desires. He warned the church DON’T BE LIKE THEM! DON’T FAKE WHAT YOU BELIEVE! In verses 20-21 he encourages the church by saying you know what you heard and learned, now keep living it!
The problem is the enemy plants seeds of doubt, and instead of going back to our Savior, Jesus, we find a way to be distracted or cover up the doubt. I think of how many hours I find ways to entertain myself with a TV show, movie, a game, sports, or anything else. Most of those things are not bad in themselves, but instead of allowing God to work in our minds to remind us of His truth, we let those things occupy precious time. That is exactly what Romans 1:21 tells us to be careful of: For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Paul saw this happen. He saw friends stop letting God fix their minds and hearts, and it crushed him just as it does us.
Instead of trying harder or faking it, let’s go to God together. Take a moment, put a hold on the worries, fears or negative thoughts and just be with God. Here are a few things we should ask of God today ...
- God, allow me to think of things worthy of your praise. (Phil. 4:8)
- God, transform my mind and my actions. (Rom. 12:1-2)
- God, allow me to trust you as you work. (Prov. 3:5)
LIVE THE STORY: Let’s close with a section from St. Patrick’s prayer for an open mind. I encourage you to read and pray the whole prayer when you have time to today.
I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me, God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s hosts to save me
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a multitude.
Jeremy Johnson
Pastor of Men’s Ministry
This Is How You Grow
Paul writes the formula for growing to be like Jesus. You’ve probably heard it, but it’s possible that this instruction hasn’t sunk in. This formula addresses one of the biggest challenges in today’s church. It addresses one of the hardest thing’s believers are all called to do, and too often, avoid doing. Here is the verse:
“Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.” Ephesians 4:15 (NLT)
The formula is clear: speaking the truth in love = growing to be like Jesus. This seems simple and yet many believers make one or both of the following mistakes when it comes to dealing with conflict (a natural byproduct of dealing with people). One of the mistakes is avoiding the truth (not speaking it) and the other is speaking the truth without love. The first word of verse fifteen is “Instead,” so its important to know that the previous verse is about being a baby, being spiritually immature and therefore easily deceived. Instead of being a baby Christian, “we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ.”
So, two questions to consider, and these shed light on one’s maturity as a Christ follower:
- Are you avoiding saying something to someone in your life?
- Are you saying things without love?
If the answer to either is yes, then you are missing out on growing to be more like Jesus. Avoiding truth because the
conversation might be difficult means avoiding loving that person, too. Saying truth without love doesn’t help the hearer or the speaker to grow. In fact, it tears down relationships.
A key to growing to be more like Jesus is speaking the truth to the people around you and doing it in a loving way, which means with their concern and best interest at heart.
Today, don’t just pray about being able to speak the truth to people around you in love; practice it! We get better at the things we practice and getting better at speaking the truth in love is what Christ’s body does to become more like him. What is one hard conversation you sense Jesus asking you to have? Is there someone who has spoken truth to you that you could thank?
John Riley
Junior High Pastor
Have Fun!
What do you think of when you hear the word fun? First, I think of my aunt. Fun is not only her favorite word, but also her favorite state of being. She loves to describe much of life as fun and she does so with a joyful spirit, and a deep, passionate love for Jesus. I remember camping with her in the Sierras as a child. One of my favorite moments of each day was visiting her trailer in the morning, for the sole purpose of joining her in “screaming on pitch” to a Sandi Patti song. I felt so free!
You’re probably wondering what this has to do with Ephesians 4. Look at verse 13 in the NIV: “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Now read this verse in the Message: “until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.” Both translations use the word mature, but the Message certainly expands on its meaning. The word mature in the Greek is telos, which is a goal-oriented word defined as: having reached its end; complete. That begs the question, what is “the end”? What does God desire for his children?
When I think of the word mature, the image of a very proper, and correct person comes to mind; maybe Ward or June Cleaver? I certainly don’t think of fun, and I don’t think this image of maturity is God’s end for us. Scripture frequently speaks of the abundant, life-giving joy that God longs for each of us to experience as we delight in him.
Psalm 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
John 15:11 “I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!”
Do you laugh with God? Are you giddy at what he can do in your own life and in the lives of others? Do you ever jump for joy when he reveals himself through the truth of Scripture? Do you feel free to have fun with him? Or do you feel trapped by the common image of a mature believer? Living life to the full is an expression of “the end” that God longs for you to experience. Have fun with God ... you might be surprised!
LIVE THE STORY: Go on a walk with God and ask him to reveal something amazing in nature. He will! Then try praising him out loud, freely expressing your joy and gratitude. (It’s ok, you won’t look crazy; people look like they are talking to themselves all the time when they are wearing ear buds.) It just might be fun!
Lynette Fuson
Women’s Ministry Director
Not Spectators But Participants
When I arrived at Emmanuel Faith two years ago, I thought
it was my responsibility to meet everyone’s expectations of me! It didn’t matter who it was or whether their expectations were right or wrong, just that they had them. So, I worked myself bone tired trying to entertain, amaze, support, counsel, connect, and impress nearly everyone I came across.
Paul talks about the “works of service” we are to do for God in Ephesians. I desperately wanted to serve, but I had made the unfortunate assumption that I was the main attraction and the one God called to do all the works of service for the church! I misunderstood myself to be the main player on the field.
A critical turning point came by accident. One Tuesday I had no time to prepare for a college men’s Bible Study for that night, so desperate and tired, I texted one of the men I trusted to lead in my place for the night. He agreed, and with relief and uncertainty, I went to the Bible study. The change in the group and the room was dynamic! Men were speaking up that hadn’t opened their mouths in the group before. They dove into Scripture with a new passion and began praying for real requests. My pride was hurt, but God began to whisper something in my ear that I thought I’d already learned: This isn’t about you!
Personal pride and ambition can cause me/us to make much of my/our calling. Jesus calls all of us to serve one another. The job of a church pastor, director, or staff member isn’t to be a rock star. We’re the music teacher, stage builder, audio technician, or the hype man. We support God’s people to shine in ministry. The reason for this is biblical: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers aren’t meant to be admired and praised for their abilities. Rather, they’ve been called to serve the church so that the body is built up, elevated, and raised for the sake of “works of service.”
Realizing this at a practical level changed my approach to leadership and role as College Pastor. Eventually, I began to look for ways to put others on the stage and in the limelight. These moments were frustrating at times as I watched college students be themselves while my own desire for perfection demanded professionalism.
As the audience I’d been performing for began to realize they were not spectators but participators, a spiritual fire broke out in their hearts, I’m happy to say that fire is blazing hotter today than it was a couple months ago, and the flames rise higher with each opportunity to hand the stage and the mic away to a student called to lead.
In order to live this out in a new way, ask Jesus to provide opportunities for you to encourage others around you with how you see God using them. Hebrews 3:13 tells us to encourage each other daily, as long as it is called “today.” As Jason Wilson says, “I have seen discipline and admonishment fail, but I’ve never seen encouragement fail.” Pray Jesus gives you the opportunity to encourage someone around you.
Ryan Lunde
Young Adults Pastor
What Is a Special Gift?
THE PUZZLE PIECE
Specifically designed Uniquely shaped
Purposeful
Every puzzle piece in its place
Except one
One lone missing piece
Without it the puzzle’s beauty is tarnished
The void becomes the focal point
Instead of joy there’s distraction Unfinished
Incomplete
Ineffective
Look around. We are each as different as, well, puzzle pieces. Some may appear to be similar, but no two people are alike. Ephesians 2:10 says we are each God’s masterpiece, his handwork, created for his good purpose.
Yet, sometimes we don’t accept our worth in Christ. We look at another person — another puzzle piece if you will — and worry we’re not as talented, gifted or smart as someone else.But God handcrafted each one of us to uniquely fit in the big puzzle of his church family, and use our gifts to enhance and complement others. Satan would like nothing more than for us to wrap ourselves up in self-pity or envy, wishing we were like someone else, instead of asking God who HE created us to be, uniquely designed for a good purpose.
My son was a film major — as were most of his college friends. While their diplomas are alike, each one has unique giftings. One oozes creativity and establishes the vision and direction. Another is creative in a different way, juggling all the production details. One is technically skilled at cinematography and lighting. Yet another has a unique ability to design a film world with sets, costumes and colors. The degrees on their diplomas are the same, but they each bring something unique to a project.
And so it is with the body of Christ. When we embrace who God created us to be, we allow him to use us in the void hecreated us to fill within the church family.
As Ephesians 4:16 (NLT) says, “He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy, growing and full of love.”
LIVE THE STORY: How has God gifted you? Is there something that comes easily to you where others may struggle? Ask God to help you identify your gifting and how he wants to use you uniquely on purpose for a good purpose.
Lord, thank you for generously giving me a special gift to use for your glory and to enhance the body of Christ. Give me your wisdom to know what it is and your clarity to see how to use this gift for your good purpose. Amen.
Cyndie Claypool de Neve
Senior Creative Director
Walking the Walk
My dad used to tell my two sisters and I to walk tall. He was 6’2, both of my sisters were over 5’6 and I was 5’2ish. What did he mean—how could I walk tall being so short I wondered? He wasn’t talking about height or physical posture—he was talking about our attitudes and behavior. He was talking about honesty, integrity, and not thinking ourselves better than others. Though far from perfect, he modeled caring and compassion for others too. In the same way Paul is pleading, begging, urging, or imploring the people of Ephesus to walk worthy of their calling, to live and act in a way worthy of those who have been chosen, or to walk holy in other versions. Simply not to just talk the talk but walk the walk; doing it with humility, gentleness, patience and love, being diligent or making every effort to stay united in the Spirit.
What does it mean to walk or act in a way worthy of their calling or in some versions, vocation? Maybe to realize that we are all equally important, chosen parts of one body of believers, called to proclaim the gospel and the only way to accomplish the goal set before us is to be a united team. To know that we are only worthy because of God’s grace, but not to think ourselves more important in God’s grand scheme than anyone else. The one thing that seems to destroy unity in the body or any relationship is the need or desire for us to be right about something. Whether, politics, theology, music styles, or a million other things. If we put that desire before the relationship, even if we speak the truth without love, the result is disharmony. Love, peace, patience, and humility disappear—ever had that happen in your life?
You will learn from the other writer’s this week more about humility, gifting, and being mature in the faith. I just want to share a few lines from the song “Who Am I” by Casting Crowns that puts “walking tall” or “worthy” into perspective every time I hear it.
Who am I, that the lord of all the earth Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt?
Who am I, that the bright and morning star Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart?
Not because of who I am
But because of what you’ve done Not because of what I’ve done But because of who you are.
LIVE THE STORY: Choose one of the words Paul uses to describe how we maintain unity—humility, gentleness, patience, or love to pray about this week and practice with your coworkers, ministry partners, friends or family.
Deb Hill
Executive Admin. Assistant
Great Expectations
A few years ago, there was a Saturday Night Live sketch that was one of my personal favorites. It was about a woman called Debbie Downer (or it could have been Negative Ned). If you’re familiar with the name, then you’re probably familiar with what the skit was about even if you haven’t seen it. It’s about
a person that always presents the downside of life in almost every circumstance. Have you ever met someone that seems to live life with a lack of hope or expectation? Someone that always feels that they’ll never break the cycles and patterns of life that they are currently in? That person may be a friend or family member or just an acquaintance, but, as an optimist, let me tell you that sounds like a terrible way to live!
As Christians, did you know that you have a greater hope than you could ever dream of? That hope is Christ dwelling in us (Ephesians 3:17-19)! Jesus’ power is working in you, despite your circumstances. However, as believers, we aren’t immune from bouts of hopelessness. Many of the conversations I have with people come from places of hopelessness and struggle.
It often comes from a belief that we will never be in a place that we want to be, and that we have no hope of getting there. We’ll never be the spouse, parent, friend—you name it—that we think we should be. The good news is that Christ can do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.”
Take a minute to ask yourself this question: What do you feel as though will never change in your walk with Jesus? Now imagine what it would look like if it changed to how it could be. What do you feel as though will never change in your relationships? Job? Health? What are the hopeless things that you need Jesus to bring hope to? Imagine what it would look like if they changed to how they should be. Sometimes during our circumstances, we start to wonder: Is God able? Is God still on the throne? Does God see me and care about what I’m going through? Does He have the power to change anything? Read Ephesians 3:20-21 again. Don’t lose hope! Our God is able. We dare to hope beyond our wildest dreams because He is able!
Seth Redden
Pastor of High School Ministry
