Aug 21, 2022
LAMENTATIONS 4-5:
In
yesterday's reading, the sun pierced the dark clouds with this
glorious section:
Lam. 3:22 GNT The Lord's
unfailing love and mercy still continue,
23
[GNT Fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise.//NLT Great is
his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.]
24 The Lord is all I have, and so in him, I put
my hope.
25 The Lord is good to everyone who
trusts in him,
I have only quoted the most famous part. There are many other precious verses there.
PROVERBS 13a:
Here
is a favorite proverb from today’s reading:
Pro. 13:7 NLT Some who are poor pretend to be rich;
others who are rich pretend to be poor.
Re-reading EPHESIANS 2:
We
have an important spiritual reality expressed in verse 6: Because
we are joined as one with Christ, we are already seated with Him,
reigning together with Him, in heaven. We don't wait to die to find
out if we will get into heaven! We’re already there! In my speaking
about this in Indonesia I often say, “We’re not sitting on plastic
folding chairs in heaven.” Understanding and believing this
spiritual reality should transform our prayers. Imagine how your
spirit is seated with Christ right now, and pray from your heavenly
position.
GNT Translation notes:
5:8 NLT [Slaves have now become our masters; there is no one left to rescue us.//Our rulers are no better than slaves, and no one can save us from their power.]
15 Happiness has gone out of our
lives; grief has taken the place of our
[dancing//dances].
====
Eph. 2:2 At that time you
followed the world's evil way; you obeyed the [commander of the
powers in the unseen world (NLT)//ruler of the spiritual powers in
space], the spirit who now controls the people who disobey
God.
6 In our union with Christ Jesus he raised us
up with him [to sit beside him on his throne//to rule with him] in
the heavenly world.
8-9
For it is by God's grace that you have been saved through
[believing//faith]. It is not the result of your own efforts, but
God's gift, so that no one can boast about it.
11
You Gentiles by birth—called “the uncircumcised” by the Jews, who
call themselves the circumcised (which refers to [a physical
ceremony performed upon the bodies of men//what men do to their
bodies])—remember what you were in the past.