October 18 – Direct Access

“For through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.” – Ephesians 2:18 (ESV)

One precious truth about believing in Jesus Christ that is not offered in any other religion is that we have access to God our Father. No sinner has any right or worthiness in himself for access to God, but believers have been granted that right through faith in Christ’s sacrificial death. The resources of the Trinity belong to believers the moment they receive Christ, and the Holy Spirit presents us before the heavenly throne of God the Father, where we are welcome to come with boldness at any time. We might think of our access as our introduction to the Father. But it seems better to understand that Christ gives us access to our heavenly Father as our Savior and our advocate. This access is also by faith into the grace of God in which we stand (Romans 5:2). In the next verse we are promised standing as citizens with all who are set apart in holiness and therefore in God’s household. We are IN by faith in Jesus through what the Holy Spirit has provided to us, direct access to God. We need no human intermediary, God accepts our prayers, our confessions, our faith one on one.

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March 31 – I AM The True Vine

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.” - John 15:1 

It is Thursday evening. Jesus and His closest disciples are in an upstairs room. Jesus is sharing His last Passover meal with them. They will be His Apostles and Jesus is also transforming the meal and establishing Holy Communion. These words are part of the Last Supper teaching. Jesus, knowing that very night He would be betrayed by one of them, arrested, tried and sentenced to death. His long hours of suffering would soon begin.  Before 6 p.m. Friday He would be dead. Over and over Jesus was telling them that He and the Father are joined in one purpose. Jesus is the true vine from which all others are born into and serve the Kingdom of God. Jesus is about to pay the ultimate price to preserve the fruit forever. Judas, the betrayer has left their company. The other disciples will see Judas once more and then never again. The promises we have are woven throughout this chapter. Promises of abiding, sustaining, pruning, and bearing much fruit. Promises of direct access to God to ask for whatever we need in the name of Jesus. And the promise that we will all be filled with Christ’s joy. 

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October 14 – Unhindered Access

“For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit”. Ephesians 2:18 (NIV)

No other religions in the world are like Christianity and Christianity is not a religion.  To be a Christian is having a personal relationship with God in Christ by the Holy Spirit’s indwelling. That is why this promise is so very precious and wonderful. Every person who has believed in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior has direct access to God the Father.  It is among the spiritual blessings that are ours here and in heaven. All other religions require a person to reach up to a god and grasp ahold of whatever it is by their own efforts. Christianity is the only belief where the true and only God reaches down to humans. In this letter from Paul to the church in Ephesus, the Apostle is teaching that the distinctions between all people has been removed. Those far off and excluded have now been brought close and joined with those who are near. Giving BOTH direct access to God. No more intermediaries are necessary for us to appeal to and worship God. This is a promise that in Christ we have the only mediator we’ll ever need. (1 Timothy 2:5)

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February 20 – Peace, Grace, Hope & Glory

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”  - Romans 5:1-2 (ESV)

The Bible verse today has wonderful truths.  The Apostle Paul wrote this long letter to the Christ believers who were in Rome.  Being a Christian in the Roman world was risky business but no where more than in the capital city of Rome.  Any peace between Rome and those who followed The Way of Jesus was a fragile peace.  Paul writes to those in Rome assuring them of lasting peace with God.  This was for all who have been justified because of their faith that Jesus was the Christ and He was their Lord and Savior.  This peace is also what we received from God when we believed in Jesus Christ and confessed Him as our Lord and Savior.  With peace, our faith also gives us a way into God’s grace which is the means of our salvation.  God gives grace to us when we believe and it is ours to have each day we live.  This grace gives us hope that will not disappoint because it is hope founded in the glory of God.  Our purpose today and each day is to bring glory to God our Father. Because of Jesus, we have unending peace.

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August 30 – Access Is For All

“And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.  For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.”  Ephesians 2:17-18 – (ESV)

This verse reminds us that Jesus has made a way for all people to be brought together.  At the time He lived on Earth, the significant division for Jews were the non-Jews or Gentiles.  We confidently say today that people of all kind have been brought together into the family of God.  Our promise today that we focus on is what the verse says about our access to God the Father. This is through Jesus Christ the Son and in the Holy Spirit.  When we go to God in prayer we are aware that we do so in the name of Jesus.  The Bible promises us that God will hear us and our promise today says specifically that we have access to the Father by the Son who has brought all people together. Again we emphasis this is without respect to ethnicity, race, sex, age or any other distinction that humans make.  Racism and supremacy have no place in God's plan.  Access is offered to all in one Spirit to the Father through the Son.

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April 13

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (NIV)

We have been thinking about how Jesus meets our needs. We see this again in our verse for today. We all need access to the great God, our Creator. We need a way to come to our heavenly Father. If we don’t come to Him, there is no hope for us at all. Jesus said that no one can come to the Father except through His Son. But He is the way; therefore we have access to God as we believe in what Jesus has done for us. Let’s be sure to approach God today and do it in the way He has provided – through His Son.

March 25 - Good Friday

“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.  At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”  Matthew 27:50-51 (NIV)

The death of Jesus on the cross was a part of God’s great plan for you and me. As we read the record of the crucifixion we find that one of the events that occurred gave a sign of what his death has done for us. We read in John’s record that the last words of Jesus were “It is finished.”  Then he died and at that very moment the curtain in the temple in Jerusalem was torn from top to bottom. Do you remember what that curtain was for? It was to show that people did not have access into God’s presence. His death opened the way for us to come to God. Let’s take advantage of this.