January 1

THE MEASURE OF TRUESUCCESS

"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and who are faithful in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 1:1).

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God is more interested in your faithfulness than He is in your accomplishments.

Our society is success-oriented. We love success stories. We even have television programs that exalt the lifestyles of the rich and famous. But God's standard for success is quite different. Unimpressed by our status or wealth, He looks instead for faithfulness to His will.

Paul understood that principle and diligently pursued his calling as an apostle — one of those unique men who were foundational to the church and who were recipients, teachers, and writers of the New Testament.

That was a high calling, and yet, judging from Paul's lifestyle, most people would hardly call him successful — having suffered imprisonments, beatings, death threats, shipwrecks, robberies, hatred from his theological enemies, sleepless nights, hunger, thirst, and exposure to the elements (2 Cor. 11:23-27). But none of those things deterred him from obeying God's will. His final testimony was, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim. 4:7). That's true success!

Although we're not apostles, we're to follow Paul's example of faithfulness (1 Cor. 11:1). That's possible because, like the Ephesian believers, we are "saints [holy ones] ... who are faithful in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 1:1). By God's grace we've trusted in Christ as our Lord and Savior (Eph. 2:8-9) and have received His righteousness (Phil. 3:9) and His Spirit (Eph. 3:16) and every spiritual resource necessary for faithful, victorious Christian living (Eph. 1:3).

What remains is to cultivate greater love for Christ and more consistent obedience to His Word. Those are the hallmarks of a true disciple and God's measure of success. Make it your goal that your life today warrants the Lord's commendation: "Well done, good and faithful [servant]" (Matt. 25:21).

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Suggestions for Prayer: Praise God for His wonderful grace, by which He granted you salvation and all the spiritual resources you need. Thank Him for His Word, through which you learn the principles of godly living. Ask Him for opportunities today to encourage the faithfulness of others.

For Further Study: Read Ephesians 1:3-4; 2:10; Titus 2:1112. What is the goal of your salvation? Are you living each day in light of that goal?

January 2

EXPERIENCING GOD'S PEACE

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph. 1:2).

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True peace is God's gift to those who love and obey Him.

Throughout history mankind has sought peace through military alliances, balances of power, and leagues of nations. Yet lasting peace still remains an elusive dream. Even during times of relative peace, nations struggle with internal strife and crime.

The Bible says that man on his own cannot know peace because he is alienated from its source. But we need not despair. True peace is immediately available from God our Father ("the God of peace," Rom. 15:33) and from the Lord Jesus Christ (the "Prince of Peace," Isa. 9:6). It's a gift of God's grace to those who love and obey Jesus Christ.

The New Testament so clearly teaches the inextricable link between God's grace and peace that "Grace to you and peace" became a common greeting in the early church. Grace is God's great kindness toward those who are undeserving of His favor but who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. It is the fountain, and peace is the stream. As recipients of His grace, we have "peace with God" (Rom. 5:1); we are reconciled to Him through faith in His Son, and we will never experience His wrath. We also have the "peace of God" (Phil. 4:7, emphasis added) — the Spirit's way of assuring us that God is in control even in the midst of difficult circumstances. That's why Paul calls it the peace that "surpasses all comprehension" (Phil. 4:7).

The world's peace is relative and fleeting because it is grounded in circumstances. God's peace is absolute and eternal because it is grounded in His grace.

Does God's peace reign in your heart, or have you allowed sin or difficult circumstances to diminish your devotion to Christ?

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Suggestions for Prayer: Thank God that you have peace with Him through faith in Jesus Christ. Ask the Spirit to reveal any sin that might be hindering God's peace from ruling in your heart. Be prepared to respond in confession and repentance. Ask for opportunities to demonstrate God's peace to others today.

For Further Study: Read Philippians 4:6-7. What is God's antidote for anxiety? How does God's peace affect a believer's heart and mind?

January 3

BLESSING THE GOD OF BLESSINGS

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us ..." (Eph. 1:3).

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When we bless God, it is with words of praise; when He blesses us, it is with deeds of kindness.

Paul's brief doxology identifies God the Father as the ultimate recipient and source of blessing — the One to whom blessing is ascribed and the One who bestows blessings on those who love Him.

"Blessed" translates the Greek word eulogeo-, from which we get eulogy. To bless or eulogize God is to praise Him for His mighty works and holy character.

That should be the response of your heart and mine, just as it has been the response of believers throughout the ages. The psalmist said, "Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer" (Ps. 66:20); and "Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone works wonders" (Ps. 72:18). Peter said, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3).

When the situation is reversed and God blesses us, it isn't with praise, for apart from Him there is nothing praiseworthy about us. Instead, He gives us undeserved benefits through His many deeds of kindness. Scripture identifies Him as the source of every good thing (James 1:17), who works all things together for our good and His glory (Rom. 8:28).

That is but a sampling of the many blessings He lavishes on us in His Son, Jesus Christ. It's a marvelous cycle: God blesses us with deeds of kindness; we bless Him with words of praise.

Beware of the sin of thanklessness. Recognize God's blessings in your life, and let them fill your heart and lips with humble, sincere praise.

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Suggestions for Prayer: Identify ten specific blessings God has granted to you in recent days, and praise Him for each one. Ask Him to make you more aware of and thankful for His goodness in your life. Always be ready to seek forgiveness when you take His blessings for granted.

For Further Study: Read Psalm 103. What blessings does David mention? How do they apply to...