Approved for Entry

Read Ephesians
 
Ephesians 2:18-22 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. 19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
 
HAVE you ever known someone who has become a naturalized citizen of the United States? This is a marvelous transformation for the person. He or she has come to this country seeking a better life. They have found a job, received proper credentials to live here, and gone to classes to learn about the United States.
   When the big day comes, the immigrant is approved for entry as a citizen. Big smiles come to the face and heart of the new citizen. He or she is now united with the United States. They can vote and participate in the democracy. They have all the rights of citizenship. And they have the responsibilities of citizenship. In essence they have their new country in their heart. United States’ citizenship is a part of who they are. 
   And so it is the same with our citizenship with Christ. Thank God that his Spirit has opened the way for us to come into this “country”, the Kingdom of God, that Christ has built on the foundation of the apostles. Thank God his Spirit lives in you, and you are at home in God’s Kingdom.
 
His Perfect Plans
 
Ephesians 3:17-19 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
 
THERE was a young lady who had three graduate schools accept her application. Two offered to pay for her education. A third didn’t. Because she trusted God, she prayed about the right school. He guided her to the third school that had no monetary offer. But as she followed her Lord, she very clearly saw him at work.
   She soon learned the school had a program in a research project specific to her interests and experience. This study course offered to pay her tuition, and it also paid her a salary and health benefits!
   What’s the point? When Paul wrote, “Your roots will grow down into God’s love.”  he was urging a complete confidence in God through all circumstances. When you know with your heart that Jesus loves you and died for you, you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. You will understand the power of Jesus’ wide, high, long and deep love in you.
   God had a plan for the graduate student. He perfectly designed it for her. The only way she could know his plan was to seek God and to live into his guidance.
   Seek God. Seek his plans. Trust he knows what he is doing. God will bless you, and you will rejoice in his blessings.