Prayer for Wednesday:
Most Gracious Father, You whose love to humanity was proven in the passion and death of Jesus Christ our Lord, let the power of His Cross be with me today. Let me love as He loved. Let my obedience be unto death. In leaning upon His Cross, let me not refuse my own; yet in bearing mine, let me bear it by the strength of His. Let me desire Your heavenly blessing for all those I meet this day, all my neighbors, and all my fellow citizens, all my family, and all my friends. Let Christ rule in every heart and His law be honored in every home. Let every knee be bent before Him and every tongue confess that He is Lord. In Christ's Name, Amen.
Scripture Reading for Wednesday: Ephesians 3-6
Scripture Reflection for Wednesday: Today our Bible reading covers Ephesians 3-6. In Ephesians 3, we see that we shouldn't take the Bible or preaching for granted. It is an amazing gift of grace that God would reveal Christ to us. We never would have known the mystery of the gospel, but God has given it to us through the apostles and prophets so that His people might know His love. Furthermore, God’s servants have suffered greatly through the ages to proclaim Christ’s riches to the nations. Treasure the Word, read it often, and thank God for it.
In Ephesians 4, we see that doctrine demands action, and a living faith produces works. It is presumptuous to rest in our knowledge about God if we do not walk in a manner fitting to that knowledge. Even the demons believe, and tremble. The first response the gospel requires is humility. Those who believe the doctrines of grace should of all people be most humble. Therefore, let us examine ourselves, grieve over pride, pray for humility, and meditate on the gospel.
In Ephesians 5, we see that Christians must not be like the world. Too often the church wants to blend in, either to avoid persecution or to attract new members. But how can light blend into darkness—without ceasing to be light? Our mission requires that we be different. The most effective outreach program consists of producing people who radiate goodness, righteousness, and truth. Such Christians by their very lives convict sinners, validate God’s law and judgment, and confirm the power of the gospel.
In Ephesians 6, we see that no Christian is a spiritual civilian. We are all soldiers on the front lines. Therefore we must live in a state of battle readiness, always alert for our enemy. Believers, however, need not live in bondage to fear. Christ is our armor, and He is sufficient to overcome a legion of fallen angels. Let us, therefore, make walking with Christ our lifestyle, by meditating on the truth, doing what is right, resting on Christ’s blood for peace of conscience, trusting God’s promises, hoping in total salvation, speaking God’s Word, and praying always for ourselves, other Christians, and the preachers of the gospel. By God’s grace in Christ, we can overcome the Evil One.
Daily Teaching (Catechism) for Wednesday:
(2.2) God has all life, glory, goodness, and blessedness in and of himself; he alone is all-sufficient in himself. He does not need any creature he has made nor does he derive any glory from them. Instead, he demonstrates his own glory in them, by them, to them, and upon them. He alone is the source of all being, and everything is from him, through him, and to him. He has absolute sovereign rule over all creatures, to act through them, for them, or upon them as he pleases. In his sight everything is open and visible. His knowledge is infinite and infallible. It does not depend upon any creature, so for him nothing is contingent or uncertain. He is absolutely holy in all his plans, in all his works, and in all his commands. Angels and human beings owe to him all the worship, service, or obedience that creatures owe to the Creator and whatever else he is pleased to require of them (John 5:26; Psalm 148:13; Psalm 119:68; Job 22:2, 3; Romans 11:34–36; Daniel 4:25, 34, 35; Hebrews 4:13; Ezekiel 11:5; Acts 15:18; Psalm 145:17; Revelation 5:12–14).
May God help you to grow in Christ today,
