Click for a PDF version
Monday
Read Ephesians 1:1-4
God’s Vision for His Church
“For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.” (Ephesians 1:4)
From the very beginning, God envisioned a people united in Christ. His purpose was not just for individual salvation but for the creation of a holy and blameless community—a Church that reflects His character and glory. This divine vision was not an afterthought but part of His eternal plan, rooted in His sovereign choice and infinite love, extending beyond time and space to include all who would believe in Him.
The Church is called to embody this vision as a unified and Spirit-filled community, set apart to display God’s glory. In a world often marked by division and competing agendas, the church stands as a powerful witness to God’s redemptive work, bringing unity across all races and cultures. His plan, revealed in Christ, is to bring all things together under His Lordship (Ephesians 1:10). As believers, we are invited to live out this calling, demonstrating the power of His grace and the beauty of a life surrendered to Him as we reflect His holiness and unity to the world.
This high calling is not achieved through human effort but through God’s transforming Spirit. He equips His people to love, forgive, and serve as a witness to the unity and peace only found in Christ. Together, we form a living testimony of His eternal plan, calling others to experience His grace and join His Kingdom.
Reflection:
- How does understanding God’s vision for the Church change your perspective on your role in it?
- Are you striving for unity and holiness in your relationships within your church community?
Application:
- Pray for Glenkirk to grow as a unified and Spirit-filled community.
- Identify one way you can contribute to unity within Glenkirk and its ministries this week.
Prayer
Father God, as we approach the new year, we ask that you continue to bless Glenkirk Church. You have gathered us to Yourself in Christ, for which we remain grateful. Please bless our staff, our departed senior pastor and the congregation which worships You. Help us to walk faithfully and joyfully in the new year. Amen!
Tuesday
Read Ephesians 1:5-6
Our Common Story of Adoption
“In love, He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will.” (Ephesians 1:5)
One of the greatest gifts of the Gospel is our adoption into God’s family. This divine adoption is a profound act of grace, demonstrating the depth of God’s love and His eternal desire to bring us into relationship with Him. It is not merely an individual experience but a shared story that unites us as brothers and sisters in Christ. Regardless of our backgrounds, cultures, or pasts, we are all brought into one family through Jesus.
This shared identity has profound implications for how we live and relate to one another. No longer are we strangers, adversaries, or competitors; we are co-heirs of God’s promises, bonded together by His Spirit. Adoption into God’s family reminds us that our place is not something we earn or deserve—it is a gift of grace given freely by our loving Father. This truth shatters barriers of division, replacing them with a unity that transcends earthly distinctions.
As members of God’s family, we are called to reflect His love by embracing one another as brothers and sisters. This means moving beyond surface-level interactions to genuinely care for, support, and encourage one another. It challenges us to lay aside selfishness, prejudice, and pride, choosing instead to extend the same grace we have received.
Adoption also speaks to the security we have in God. Just as earthly adoption grants a permanent status, so too does our heavenly adoption assure us of an unshakable identity in Christ. We are no longer defined by our failures or bound by fear; we are beloved children of God, chosen according to His pleasure and will.
This understanding should inspire us to live as a family of faith, united in purpose and love. Together we reflect the beauty of God’s Kingdom—a diverse yet harmonious community that points the world to the transformative power of His grace. Through our shared adoption, we proclaim the incredible truth that in Christ, all are welcome and deeply loved.
Reflection
How does this truth of your adoption into God’s family shape your interactions with others?
Application
Spend time meditating on the privilege of being an adopted child of God.
Prayer
Lord, You have adopted us into Your eternal family, not due to our merit but because You are good, loving, wise, sovereign and almighty. Help us to live as a family of faith, united in purpose and love. Grant us the faithfulness and resolve to share the Gospel with those we know living apart from Jesus Christ!
Wednesday
Read Ephesians 1:7-10
Redeemed for Unity
“To bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.” (Ephesians 1:10)
Through His blood, Jesus redeemed us, not merely to save individuals but to reconcile and unify all things under His lordship. Sin has devastating effects, fracturing relationships—between us and God, and among one another. It creates division, hostility, and brokenness. Yet Christ’s redemption restores these ruptured connections, providing the means for true reconciliation and peace.
This unifying work is central to God’s vision for His Church. Christ’s sacrifice was first about personal salvation; but it was also about creating a new community where diverse people could come together as one body, united by His Spirit. As we live in the reality of our personal redemption, we are called to embody this vision as agents of reconciliation and unity in a fragmented world.
Our mission is to live out and extend Christ’s peace in practical, tangible ways, showing the world the transformative power of His grace. This includes breaking down barriers of race, culture, and social status, and demonstrating what it means to live as a unified people under His lordship. The Church is called to be a living example of this reconciliation—a place where differences are not erased but redeemed and celebrated in Christ.
As agents of unity, we are to cultivate forgiveness, understanding, and humility in our relationships, reflecting the same love that Christ has shown us. This means choosing to prioritize His Kingdom over personal preferences or agendas, working toward harmony even when it requires sacrifice.
In a world plagued by division and conflict, the Church stands as a beacon of hope, pointing to the ultimate unity that God will bring to all things in heaven and on earth. Our unity in Christ is both a present reality and a future promise, giving us a glimpse of the eternal peace that awaits us. Through Him, we are not only redeemed but also made one, testifying to the boundless reach of His redemptive love.
Reflection
- How does your life reflect God’s work of unity and reconciliation?
- Are there any relationships in your life that need Christ’s redeeming power?
Application
- Seek reconciliation in a relationship where division exists.
- Pray for the Church to reflect the unity God desires in your local context and globally.
Prayer
Almighty Creator, thank You for calling us into community! Help us serve You as agents of unity, as beacons of hope in a lost, fallen world desperately needing Jesus Christ. Help us be active, living witnesses to Your redemptive love and saving sacrifice. We lift these to you in the Savior’s mighty name!
Thursday
Read Ephesians 1:11-13
Sealed by the Spirit, Empowered for Mission
“When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.” (Ephesians 1:13)
The Holy Spirit is the seal of God’s ownership over His Church, signifying His claim on us and guaranteeing our inheritance in Christ. This seal is both deeply personal and profoundly communal. It assures each believer of his or her salvation while marking the Church collectively as God’s unified people, set apart for His glory.
The Spirit not only guarantees our future hope but also empowers us for our present mission. He equips us to live as witnesses of Christ’s reconciling work, embodying God’s Kingdom values of love, justice, and unity in a fractured world. This empowerment is not for individual gain but for the sake of the mission we share as the Body of Christ.
As a Spirit-filled community, we are called to demonstrate the transformative power of God’s grace in the way we live and serve. Our unity and love should stand as a testimony to the world, reflecting the heart of God and inviting others to experience His Kingdom. The Spirit empowers us to overcome fear, speak boldly, and extend Christ’s invitation to those who do not yet know Him.
This mission requires active participation. We are not only recipients of the Spirit’s work but also partners in His Kingdom’s purposes. Through His guidance, we are equipped to bring healing to broken relationships, advocate for justice, and offer hope to a hurting world.
Our identity as Spirit-sealed believers is both a privilege and a responsibility. We are ambassadors of Christ, representing His love and truth in every area of life. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are continually transformed and sent out to invite others to join in the joy and hope of God’s eternal Kingdom.
Reflection
- How does the presence of the Holy Spirit shape your role in the Church?
- Are you relying on the Spirit’s power to live out your calling?
Application
- Spend time in prayer today asking the Holy Spirit to empower you for the mission of unity and reconciliation.
- Reflect on how your spiritual gifts can serve the Church’s mission.
Prayer
Lord God, You have given us Your Spirit, to guide, teach and stand alongside us as we navigate this broken world. Thank You for this Gift and its promise of dwelling with You, with Jesus Christ, in eternity! As You have redeemed us, help us be agents of Your transformative work in Christ.
Friday
Read Ephesians 1:14
Living for the Praise of His Glory
“To the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1:14)
God’s ultimate purpose for the Church is His glory. Everything He has done—choosing, adopting, redeeming, and sealing us—is to magnify His name and reveal His majesty. Yet, this glory is not a distant or abstract concept; it is made visible through the Church as a unified, diverse, and Spirit-filled community that embodies His character and love.
Living for the praise of God’s glory means that every aspect of our lives—our words, actions, relationships, and mission—reflects His greatness. This calling goes beyond individual worship; it is a shared witness as the Body of Christ. Through our unity, we testify to God’s reconciling power. Through our diversity, we reveal His creativity and inclusiveness. And through Spirit-filled living, we demonstrate His transformative grace to a watching world.
Unity, diversity, and Spirit-filled living are not ends in themselves; they are vehicles through which God’s character is displayed. The Church is called to live in a way that points others to the beauty and worth of God, inviting them to encounter His glory for themselves. When we forgive, serve, and love as Christ has loved us, we reflect the heart of God and fulfill our ultimate purpose.
This calling also reminds us that our lives are not our own. We exist for His purpose, and our mission is to glorify Him in every sphere of life. Whether in worship, work, or relationships, we are to live in a way that declares, “To God be the glory!” As we embrace this identity and purpose, we find true fulfillment, because we were created to live for something far greater than ourselves.
When the Church lives for the praise of His glory, it becomes a beacon of hope and light, revealing God’s eternal plan to unite all things in Christ and inviting others to join in His redemptive story.
Reflection
- How does your life bring glory to God, individually and as part of the Church?
- What does it mean for Glenkirk to live for the praise of His glory?
Application
- Take time in worship, declaring God’s greatness and thanking Him for His work in the Church.
- Commit to one action this week that reflects God’s glory to others.
Prayer
Father, we cannot comprehend Your glory. But we know that it is evidenced in Your love and sacrifice. Help us remember and embrace that our lives are not our own but of You, redeemed in Christ. Help us make Your glory—and loving sharing it with others—our primary 2025 theme!
Leave a Reply