Category: LGG Study

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time, Secure In Christ

Unlimited Access

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based on the LGG Study, Secure in Christ/w3d3

Read: Ephesians 3:10-13 and Hebrews 4:14-16

The purpose of this enlightenment is that through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and confident access to God by way of Christ’s faithfulness. 13 For this reason I ask you not to lose heart because of what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

Ephesians 3:10-13

Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.

Hebrews 4:14-16

For me, the highlight of today’s readings was the portions on the bold and confident access we have to the throne of God, through Christ Jesus. I love that we do not have to worry about coming into His presence. We do not have to wonder if He will hear us or not. The throne room does not close; we have 24/7 access. As today’s journal entry points out, “We enter into His presence through prayer. Prayer is speaking and listening to God. The writer of Hebrews tells us to confidently approach the throne of grace because it is where we will be met with mercy and grace (Hebrews 4:16).”

Through the blood of Jesus, we have unlimited access to God, the God who created the world and all that is on it, and the seas and all that is in them. We are not limited to morning prayers or evening prayers. We can come before Him 24/7, 365 days a year! To be clear, unlimited access doesn’t mean we will always get what we ask for. I have learned, perhaps I should say – I am constantly learning or being reminded – that we aren’t told to have bold confidence in the answer we seek, but in the true and living God, to whom we pray. This means we must trust He knows best and answers according to His perfect plan and purpose for our lives.

Friends, we are most blessed. Prayer like this is not just a gift; it is an immeasurable privilege and an opportunity for a close and intimate relationship with God. If you want to strengthen your faith and your relationship with God, start making prayer – not just part of your day but a way of life.

The More We Know

The revelation of God’s multifaceted wisdom wasn’t displayed to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms on a whim. It was not a secondary plan but was set in place from the beginning of time. The phrase “multifaceted wisdom” caught my attention and sent me chasing Scripture squirrels to understand what it really means. I hope you’ll take a minute to follow the link to Gotquestions.org for some wonderful insight and encouragement.

https://www.gotquestions.org/manifold-wisdom-of-God.html

For even more insight read today’s LGG BLOG

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time, Secure In Christ

A Servant of the Gospel

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based on the LGG Study, Secure in Christ/ w3d2

Read: Ephesians 3:7-9; SOAP: verse 8

I became a servant of this gospel according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the exercise of his power. 8 To me—less than the least of all the saints—this grace was given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ 9 and to enlighten everyone about God’s secret plan—the mystery that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things.

Ephesians 3:7-9 NET or (KJV)

Oh, friends, that we might understand that we are “servants of the gospel.” Paul got it. He was well aware of His past life. He was a persecutor of Christians, not just persecuting their beliefs, but also seeking their arrest and imprisonment, and even death if they refused to deny Christ (Acts 26:10-11). That is, until he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus1. He was radically changed from the chief of all sinners, as he defined himself, into a minister sent to take the gospel of Jesus to the Gentiles. His mission was to help them understand that God had made a way for them to be saved and numbered among the children of God. What a privilege and a challenge this must have been for Paul.

Our stories of salvation may not all be like Paul’s on the road to Damascus, with bright lights and temporary blindness. My Damascus Road was actually in a hospital room the night my first daughter was born.2 Friends, wherever we encounter Christ and put our faith in Him, we are saved by God’s grace and commissioned to “proclaim His grace and the ‘unfathomable riches of Christ'” to the world. May we be faithful, like Paul, to proclaim the message boldly, that everyone may be enlightened.

But God is greater than all of our shortcomings and failures. He can redeem anything and anyone. No one is too far gone or disqualified from His grace and service. This is why Paul writes that he is “less than the least of all the saints.” He knows what his life looked like before Christ, yet Jesus called him to His great mission. … Your resume doesn’t disqualify you. Instead, it qualifies you as a recipient of His grace to love watching world.

LGG Journal/p97

Do you remember what your life looked like before Christ? Do you understand the privilege of being called by Jesus to carry out His commission to share His message and love with others? If so, I invite you to share your story in the comments; if not, I invite you to visit the “Know these truths” link below.

https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths/

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time, Secure In Christ

The Mystery of Christ

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based on the LGG study, Secure in Christ, w3d1

Read: Ephesians 3:1-6: SOAP: verse 6

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles 2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before briefly  4 When reading this, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ 5 (which was not disclosed to people in former generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit), 6 namely, that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 3:1-6 NET or (KJV)

The third week of our journey picks up right where Paul left off. So the statement, “for this reason,..,”at the beginning of Ephesians chapter three, is a transition statement moving his readers from the teaching of salvation, grace, and Christ’s power to information on how to live as a follower of Christ. In other words, if we are to be a part of the whole building that Paul referenced in Ephesians 2:19-22, then we must know how to live like Christ and in unity with the rest of “the building,” the body of Christ.

Paul’s obvious desire, after being so radically changed by the gospel was to share the good news, build up the church, and challenge the believers to rightly seek after Christ. He even did this from a prison cell.1 As today’s journal entry points out, “Paul could have easily given into despair for his prison sentence, yet he chose to view himself as a prisoner for Christ. He looked at his circumstances as another opportunity to witness to those around him, pray for the churches he had founded, visited, or heard of, and to train up new believers.”

  • Paul identifies himself as “the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles.”
  • He clarifies that he had been given the responsibility to share the Gospel (the message of God’s Grace) with them.
  • Paul shares the insight he was given into the mystery of Christ, which was that Jews and Gentiles now shared in the same promises of God in Christ Jesus. Specifically, the gift of salvation through the blood of Christ.
    • We share in the inheritance of Jesus Christ. (fellow heirs)
    • We belong to the same body (fellow members) (see also Rom 12:3-4).
    • We all share in the promises of God through/in Christ Jesus our Lord (fellow partakers).
      • It should be noted that in each of these points, the pronoun “we” refers to those who belong to God, through faith in Jesus Christ (Rom 1:16).

Friends, the Gospel – namely, the mystery of Christ, “changes everything. I know it did for me and we can see from Paul’s letters that it radically changed him. The journal leaves us with this question: “Have you been so changed by the gospel of Jesus that you can’t help but share it with others?” -and these words of encouragement: “Let’s not waste our days but diligently seek to share Christ wherever we may be.”

Consider this beautiful and helpful reminder from last week’s journey through Ephesians chapter 2:

The Church is being built and joined together on the foundation of Jesus, the apostles, and prophets. This foundation will last no matter what circumstances are faced. This foundation is unshakable and cannot be moved.

Knowing that Christ is the head of the Church, what, then, is the Church? The Church is made up of believers of all nations, tribes, people, and languages. It will remain solid and sturdy even in eternity (Revelation 7:9).

Our belief in Jesus is aligning and joining each of us together so that we form the temple of God. Each believer, whether you know it or not, has a purpose to serve through his or her spiritual gift. These spiritual gifts are given for the purpose of serving God and bringing glory to His name (1 Peter 4:10-11).

Believers are joined together as part of God’s family by grace through faith, regardless of our past or present circumstances.

LoveGodGreatly.com/blog post/August 15, 2025

“So as you come to him, a living stone rejected by men
but chosen and precious in God’s sight, you yourselves, as living stones,
are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood…”

(1 Peter 2:4)
The More We Know

Insightful Explanation of Ephesians 3:6

For more insight into today’s journey, read today’s LGG Blog Post –> HERE

Want to know how to share in the mystery of Christ? Click Here

https://mefromthensideout.wordpress.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths/
  1. Secure in Christ journal entry/p93 ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time, Secure In Christ

A Dwelling Place

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based on the LGG Study, Secure in Christ/w2d5

Read: Ephesians 2:19-22; SOAP verse 21-22

 So then you are no longer foreigners and noncitizens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, 20 because you have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Eph 2:19-22 (Read in KJV)

Regardless of your Bible translation, I believe this is a beautiful declaration of truth. I’ve read it and heard it preached many times before. However, this time, after spending two weeks reading through the first two chapters of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, it seems brighter and clearer.

It has put being a member of God’s household in a whole different light for me. Not only is the fullness of the Trinity involved in the building of God’s household, but the apostles and prophets are involved, as well as all believers then and now. Through Jesus, we have been made part of the Church. We have become a dwelling place of God by His Spirit. This is a wonderful gift of our salvation. It is an honor and an undeserved privilege to be cherished.

Previously, Paul described the collective church of Jesus, the apostles, prophets, and all other believers as a temple. Here, Paul also includes his readers as an important part of the building process. Notice that this work takes place “by the Spirit.” We worship by the Spirit (Philippians 3:3), live by the Spirit (Galatians 5:25), are led by the Spirit (Galatians 5:18), walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16), are taught by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:13), and are washed, sanctified, and justified by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:11). Just as salvation is something owed purely to the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8–9), success in the Christian life is owed entirely to the power of God through the Holy Spirit.

Bibleref.com
The More We Know

Enjoy more insight into today’s journey from the LGG, Secure in Christ, journal, p83.

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time, Secure In Christ

From Having No Hope to Being Brought Near

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based on the LGG Study, Secure in Christ, w2d3

Read: Ephesians 2:11-13; SOAP 2:13

Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh—who are called “uncircumcision” by the so-called “circumcision” that is performed on the body by human hands— 12 that you were at that time without the Messiah, alienated from the citizenship of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who used to be far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 2:11-13 NET (KJV Version)

I love the way Paul writes about this subject to the believers in Colossae, in Colossains chapter 3. Paul reminds believers that they have put off their old nature and should now put on the new nature, get to know God, and become like Him. He goes on to tell them that “In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.” Here in his letter to the Ephesians, Paul paints another ‘before-and-after’ picture. Summing the old nature up in verse 12, Paul reminds them that at one time they (the Gentiles, those who were not Jews) were without the Messiah, alienated from the citizenship of Israel (the Jews) and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. That is definitely a very bleak before picture. Yet, Paul doesn’t stop there. Instead, he continues with these words of great hope in a portrait of the “after”: “But now in Christ Jesus you who used to be far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

Is there any better news for those of us who were ‘far off’, having no hope and without God in the world, than to learn that by the blood of Jesus Christ we have been brought near to God?

Thank You God for Jesus’ blood, the hope of the world! Thank You for the reminders in Your Word that we were once without hope at all, and no claim to Your covenants of promise. Death and destruction were our ‘fate’! “But now in Christ Jesus,” by Your gift of grace through faith, we have the joy of being “brought near by the blood” of our Savior, Your only begotten Son. – We are a people most blessed! – Amen

The More We Know

It should be noted that Paul is pointing out that the circumcision of old was performed by human hands, while the circumcision of the heart is by the blood of Jesus Christ. Read the following link by Gotquestions.org for more on the important difference …

Set Apart to God –

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time, Secure In Christ

A Good Man …

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Based on the LGG Study, Secure in Christ, w2d2

Read Ephesians 2:6-10; SOAP: Ephesians 2:8-9

 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 it is not from works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)

I read, quote, and pray these verses often, but for some reason, as I read the passage today, I was reminded of Mr. Perry. When I was a teenager, I used to witness to Mr. Perry, who went to my church. He was a weekly, (nearly) every service church-goer, but he wasn’t saved. He sat in the same pew week after week, listening to the sermons. He interacted with the people, attended the fellowship dinners and other church-wide events, and supported the teen choir when we had car washes. However, whenever I talked to him about Jesus and salvation, he would tell me: “Sweetheart, I’m a good man, and God knows it, so don’t you worry about me getting to heaven.”

We didn’t see each other much after I grew up and changed churches. When we did, he kept the conversation to ~”I’m good, sweetie, don’t you worry about me.” It made me sad to think that, after all the years of sitting in church and being involved with Christians on a regular basis, he had never gotten past the belief that his goodness/good works were enough. I wanted so much for my friend to understand that salvation is based on nothing he had done, or could ever do. I longed for him to trust Jesus as His savior and to understand that no amount of goodness and kindness could ever make up for our sins. Ultimately, I was reminded by a mentor that I wasn’t responsible to save him, only to share the gospel, live it out, and pray that he would come to believe the message that he continually heard preached in church and shared by those who witnessed to him personally.

Mr. Perry passed away about five years ago. My heart was filled with sorrow at his passing. However, joy soon followed when I learned that at the time of his death, he wasn’t just a ‘good man’ but a believer saved by grace.

The More We Know

Who can you tell about Jesus and God’s grace? Who can you pray for that isn’t saved or believes that their good works are enough? Ask God to use you and don’t stop praying for them. – Need help sharing the message? Feel free to use or share the following page.

https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths/
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time, Secure In Christ

No Longer Dead

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Based on the LGG Study, Secure in Christ, w2d1

Read Ephesians 2:1-5; SOAP: Ephesians 2:4-5

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

Ephesians 2;4-5

There are a lot of “but God” moments in my life and in the Bible, but verse 4 of Ephesians 2 is perhaps the biggest “but God” statement ever. Paul writes that “we were dead in our trespasses and sins…but God made us alive!” This wasn’t a transformation earned or deserved, but rather an act of mercy and love, a gift of grace. Paul wrote something similar to the Corinthians, telling them, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come!” As Paul explains it to the Ephesians, God gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead.

What are some “But God” moments in your life?

Have you ever noticed the “but God” moments in your day-to-day life? Sometimes they are more obvious than others, but I guarantee they are there. Ask God to help you see them, to be alert to what He is doing in your life or that of your family and friends. Write them down and read them often, look for them in Scripture. Take time to praise Him for them, remembering they are precious and priceless acts of His mercy, love, and/or grace.

  • When I was five years old, when no one was looking, I disobeyed my parents, climbed into my brother’s Batmobile car, and rolled right out into the street. I was hit by a car…but God spared my life.
  • My daughter Annie was diagnosed with leukemia on her 10th birthday…she faced many difficult battles and was in and out of the ICU for several years…but God healed her.
  • My daughter Abi was born with crippled (club) feet…but God healed her.

These are just a few of my life’s bigger “but God” moments. There are plenty more, including the day-to-day “but God” moments of seeing things like His protection from a wreck or His provision of a necessity when I saw no way for it to happen. All of them, the ‘big’ and the ‘day-to-day’, remind me of His goodness and His faithful love, mercy, and grace. Yet none can compare to the truth of Paul’s statement in my own life – for I was dead in my trespasses and sins…but God…gave me life and now I live!

Good news, good news, Christ died for me, Good news, good news, if I believe, Good news, good news, I’m saved eternally. That’s wonderful, extra good news!

CEF/children’s song

While the Spirit directed my thoughts/writing to the “but God” phrase Paul used, it is crucial to note and understand the significance of Paul’s words in verse 5: that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!). Today’s journal entry by Love God Greatly sums it up nicely:

Paul writes the truth of our state before God. He states that we were dead in our offenses and sins. Sin is anything we think, say, or do that is not pleasing or honoring to God. Our sin completely separates us from our holy God. Not only were we dead in our sins, but we chose to sin. We indulged in our desires and were deserving of wrath. There was nothing we could do in our broken, depraved state.

It isn’t that God gave us a hall pass to be forgiven. No, He took our dead state and made us completely new. The old has gone and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17). This is why the gospel of Jesus Christ is such good news! You have been made alive and new!”

Secure in Christ Journal/p67

Thank you, God, for loving us so much. Thank You for your rich mercies and amazing grace, and for Jesus Christ, who died so we could live!

Oh, what love, no greater love
Grace, how can it be
That in my sin, yes, even then
He shed His blood for me

O the Blood/Kari Jobe
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time, Secure In Christ

More…

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based on the LGG Study, Secure In Christ, w1d5

Read: Ephesians 1:15-23; SOAP: verses 16-17

I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, 17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. 

Ephesians 1:16-17

After nearly three years of living with the believers at Ephesus, Paul had come to know them well. He was impressed, not only by their faith but by their love for one another. It was clear to him that they knew the facts and blessings of salvation as well as the future hope believers have with God. Clearly, this knowledge and his relationship with them fostered the beautiful and heartfelt prayer for them to more fully understand the importance of their salvation and eternal hope, and grow in their knowledge of God. Oh, that we might pray for and encourage each other like this.

Today’s journal entry by the Love God Greatly team is too beautiful and encouraging not to share. I pray it blesses you as it has me. I pray for each of you, truly from the heart, that together we might understand the blessing of our salvation and the hope we have in Jesus Christ. I pray that He might give us spiritual wisdom and insight so that, together, we might grow in our knowledge of God. You are dearly loved and such a blessing to me. 💕🦋

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time, Secure In Christ

Marked

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based on the LGG Study, Secure in Christ, w1d4

Read:Ephesians 1:11-14; SOAP: verse 13

 And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation)—when you believed in Christ—you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit,

Ephesians 1:13

What a joy to know that because we have placed our faith in Jesus Christ we have been marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit. Being marked by the Holy Spirit is the assurance that we belong to God. He has identified us as His own and we are secure in Christ. No one and nothing can change it or take the promised inheritance away.

 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

Ephesians 1:14

The added bonus is that we aren’t just marked by the Holy Spirit, instead He is sent to live within every believer. However, He isn’t a silent partner of the trinity, rather He works on God’s behalf to “convict, guide, renew, unite, and encourage us daily.” He produces in us evidence, like love, grace, mercy, and peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control – so that others know that we belong to Him. When this happens God receives glory, honor, and praise.

Posted in Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Secure In Christ, The Gospel

In Christ Alone

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based on the LGG Study, Secure in Jesus, w1d3

Read: Ephesians 1:7-10; SOAP: 7-8

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our offenses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight. 

Ephesians 1:7-8 (NET) click here for KJV

Redemption, which is the forgiveness of sin, comes only through the blood of Jesus, and it only comes to those who believe in the name of Jesus. As today’s passage of our journey explains, it is not by our name or anything we have done. Instead, it is because God poured out His kindness and grace, and not begrudgingly, but out of His good pleasure, that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son. In Christ, God made a way for us to know Him and to receive forgiveness for our sins. Scripture is very clear that there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. There is one redeemer, and He is Jesus Christ, our Lord.

There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.

Acts 4:12

Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it. Redeemed by the blood of the lamb. Redeemed through His infinite mercies, His child, and forever, I am.

Hymn/Redeemed (scroll down for the full song)

Today’s journal entry by LGG points out that Paul isn’t writing about the classic “world’s version” of redemption. You know, the one

Friends, the story of God’s love and the story of Jesus on the cross are one and the same. And, as today’s journal entry points out, “It is the greatest story of redemption ever known. No matter where you are today, you can receive the redemption found through Jesus.” If you have not trusted Jesus as your savior, I plead with you to believe in Him today, to call upon the name above all other names, the only name under heaven by which we must/can be saved.

As today’s journal entry also points out, Paul’s letter about redemption, written to the Ephesians, wasn’t about the stories of redemption we read in books or see in movies. “in the secular world, redemption occurs when an individual accomplishes something or does something good. This is not so for those who are in Christ. We don’t have to do anything to receive redemption. We simply have to recognize our sin and trust in Jesus.” As Luke points out in Acts 4:12, “There is salvation in no one else.” Jesus alone is the one who secures our redemption.

We are not the heroes of the story. Jesus is. We are merely recipients of His lavish grace. And what’s more, Paul tells us that our redemption is part of God’s bigger plan for His creation. One day, Jesus will return as the forever king. When this happens, all who have placed their faith in Him will be united together under His leadership.

LGG/Secure in Christ Journal/p49
The More We Know

Want to know more about how to be saved and redeemed by the blood of the lamb? Please click and read Know These Truths below. Questions or want to talk about these truths and/or being a follower of Christ? Simply scroll down and leave me a message in the ‘reply’ box. This is the most important decision you will ever make and I’d love to talk with you about it.

https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths/