Spring has arrived in Florida!!! The grass is turning green again and the flowers are blooming in all their glorious splendor!!! Some of you out there might not think a lot of this, as Spring comes EVERY YEAR!!! To those people I say - get a life, look around- there is beauty everywhere. And the closer you look, the more you will be amazed at what you see, because life is simply W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L !!!! The same is true in the spiritual realm as well. Some people (like those who would just look at the topmost picture) consider God from a distance and just do not want to get involved. Others, may see the possibility of fellowship with God, but just not sit down and spend some time with HIM (check out the bench). Still others may associate with HIM somewhat, but just will not immerse themselves in HIS fellowship (like getting into a swimming pool). Lastly (and best of all) are those who want to know every little thing about HIM and get close enough to see the majesty and glory of knowing him. And so, with all this in mind, I came to the second chapter of Ephesians...
Ephesians, Chapter 2
1 You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience; 3 among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus; 8 for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, that no one would boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.
11 Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “uncircumcision” by that which is called “circumcision”, (in the flesh, made by hands); 12 that you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of partition, 15 having abolished in the flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace; 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having killed the hostility thereby. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, 20 being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone; 21 in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.
When you come close to God the father, you do it through obeying from the heart the Gospel of Jesus. It does not matter if you were a Jew or a Gentile, rich or poor, slave or free, young or old, male or female- If you are IN JESUS (Galatians 3: 22-29); then you are REALLY IN!!!! And the more you grow in Christ, the more spiritual insight you develop and the more love and effort you will expend in building up the household of God. Today, spend some real quality time alone with God; ask for guidance and just one thing to do in order to express your love for HIM. Even if it is something as simple as viewing a leaf and seeing it for the marvelous jewel that God has made - ask!!! God will listen and you will be amazed how alive you will feel!!!