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Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Ephesians GW 2:1-22 [Please read entire passage in your favorite translation. Underling mine] You were once dead because of your failures and sins. You followed the ways of this present world and its spiritual ruler. This ruler continues to work in people who refuse to obey God. All of us once lived among these people, and followed the desires of our corrupt nature. We did what our corrupt desires and thoughts wanted us to do. So, because of our nature, we deserved God's anger just like everyone else. But God is rich in mercy because of his great love for us. We were dead because of our failures, but he made us alive together with Christ. (It is God's kindness that saved you.) God has brought us back to life together with Christ Jesus and has given us a position in heaven with him. He did this through Christ Jesus out of his generosity to us in order to show his extremely rich kindness in the world to come. God saved you through faith as an act of kindness. You had nothing to do with it. Being saved is a gift from God. It's not the result of anything you've done, so no one can brag about it. God has made us what we are. He has created us in Christ Jesus to live lives filled with good works that he has prepared for us to do. … you are no longer foreigners and outsiders but citizens together with God's people and members of God's family. You are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Christ Jesus himself is the cornerstone. In him all the parts of the building fit together and grow into a holy temple in the Lord. Through him you, also, are being built in the Spirit together with others into a place where God lives.

Philippians 3:18-21 [GW] I have often told you, and now tell you with tears in my eyes, that many live as the enemies of the cross of Christ. In the end they will be destroyed. Their own emotions are their god, and they take pride in the shameful things they do. Their minds are set on worldly things. We, however, are citizens of heaven. We look forward to the Lord Jesus Christ coming from heaven as our Savior. Through his power to bring everything under his authority, he will change our humble bodies and make them like his glorified body.

Hebrews [GW] 13:14 We don't have a permanent city here on earth, but we are looking for the city that we will have in the future.

 

  Having moved several times with birth family and a few times after nuptials, like many folks it’s a choice as to answering “Where’s home?”

  Geographically answered, first “3214 Evergreen Ave., Hamilton, Baltimore, Maryland. Then, Dundalk (1), then Harford County (4), then Nebraska (2).

  Emotionally the question is more difficult to answer exactly as every place we lived has good memories.

  Eternally is the easiest to answer for sure, for after John 3:3 new birth redemption at age 27 of October 1963, all previous places must be categorized “temporary”. For the past 52+ years my permanent home is, with Jesus, heaven! (Eph.2:6) But not without responsibility of citizenship, for every citizen is a serving ambassador. (Heb.13:14; 2Cor.5:14-21)

  Let us together live accordingly, a product of our home place, citizens reflecting the Good News about Christ. (Rom.12:1-3; Phil.1:27)

EBB4