Have You Been Up To Your Armpits In Alligators Lately?

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them" (Eph. 2:10).

Hey Gang:  Do you know what God's desire is for you today?  Paul answers this question in Ephesians 1:19-19a: "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe."

And how do we make this happen?  We don't. "It comes through the working of the strength of His (God's) might which He brought about in Christ" (v.19b-20a).

One of the first lessons I learned as a new Christian was that God is a compulsive decorator.  If you are sincere is your commitment to Him as Lord of your heart, be advised He will place you on the potter’s wheel and begin to cut and scrap and whittle in an effort to make you into the image of His Son.  

I suspect this might account for some of the discomfort we feel- for heart surgery can be a very uncomfortable trip through the wilderness.  We don't mind it much when a new coat of paint is added, or new carpet laid, but we can become a wee bit testy when He begins to dig into the crevices and deal with those sacred bangles and beads that we want to hang onto or hide. 

God's intent for His children? "That we not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!  But His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night" (Psa. 1:1-2).

So, lads and lassies, notice God's promise in verse three: "You will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers" (Psa. 1:3).  So, which are your? “A tree firmly planted by the water?” or "…chaff which the wind drives away" (v.4b).

      Blessings,

      Gramps