Ephesians 2- Even our faith is a gift from God

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

...

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

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This is a great reminder that everything is truly from God.  Vs. 8 is one of my favorite passages because it clearly states that even the Faith required for me to believe in God's incredible plan has been gifted to me.  None of salvation is based on what I can do, but solely on what God has done.

Help me to be humble and trust that You are in control.

Ephesians 1- God works all things according to His will

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love

5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,

6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight

9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him

10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him

11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,

12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.

13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,

14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.

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How incredible a passage.  I really wanted to copy the entire chapter in here.  Anyway, look at vs. 11... My wife was just telling me not to worry about the things at work, because ultimately God has a plan for my life.  It doesn't matter what decisions are made, NOTHING will take God by surprise.  He has a plan for me and if I allow Him to lead me I will be in His will!

Galatians 6- Boasting Only in Christ

14 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

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My continual prayer is that I would be humble.  I have learned over the years that Pride is one of my sinful attitudes that I must constantly be watching, praying about and held accountable to.  I always viewed pride as arrogance, and I wasn't arrogant.  So I didn't think I had to worry about pride.  But the more I saw myself struggling with sin especially in professional relationships, God helped me understand these sins were based on the basic belief that I was better, smarter, more articulate or whatever. 

Now, I pray every day as I am heading to work, "Lord give me humility and help me to be a great Ambassador for Christ".  It has changed how I interact with my coworkers and boss.  It is still a struggle.  I am constantly reminded by the Holy Spirit, that I may not have all the answers, or that I just need to listen.

This section of Scripture reminds me that I do have one thing to be "proud" about...that God sent His Son to die in my place.  Jesus was the only acceptable sacrifice for all the despicable things that I have done.  Thank you Lord that you first loved me!

Galatians 5- Walk by the Spirit

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

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What an amazing picture. If we walk by the Spirit, we will not have an opportunity to pursue the things of this world. We should be so taken by what Christ has done in us, that we run to Him.

Paul brings us back to the Law here. The entire book of Galatians was written to counter the false teaching that we, as believers, must continue to keep the whole Old Testament Law. Paul is trying to instruct that we are saved by FAITH. It is only through the free gift of Salvation that we can be redeemed. Christ's death was the only acceptable sacrifice to God that could pay for our sin!

How incredible...

I am reminded by vs. 17 about the analogy of removing air from a container. What is the most complete way to remove air from a container? Fill it with something water! That is true for us if "air" is our sinful nature and the "water" is God's Spirit.

Are you allowing God to fill you?

Galatians 4- Heirs

3 So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.

4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,

5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"

7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

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What an incredible picture of adoption. We are lost in this world. We have on one looking out for our good. We wander around in desperation, trying to make sense of this life, to no avail. Then Christ takes hold of our lives. We discover that He is our redeemer! And when we receive that by Faith, we become adopted sons(and daughters) of God, with full rights to the fullness of His inheritance.

Galatians 3- Salvation by Faith Alone

5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

6 Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are (K)sons of Abraham.

8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU."

9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.

10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM."

11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."

12 However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM."

13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"--

14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

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Galatians 2- Crucified with Christ

20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

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What a privilege we have that our flesh has been crucified. We no longer need to obey the fleshly desires. We must live by faith to experience God's power of transformation.