“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” John 1:1-3
When we think of creation, we usually think of God the Father. But the eternal Word, God the Son, already was in the beginning. He was with God and He is God. All things were created by Him, and nothing was made apart from Him!
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, eternal Son of God, I thank You for creating me and all things. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee. Nehemiah 9:6
The LORD God, the only true God, is the creator of the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. He not only created all things; He preserves them. And the angels of heaven, together with all His works, worship Him and praise His glorious name (Ps. 103:19-22).
O LORD God, grant that I too worship and honor You as my Creator and Preserver. You have given me life and You watch over me. Though I have sinned against You, yet You have reached down in love and sent Your only-begotten Son to redeem me that I might trust in You and be pardoned and forgiven and have life everlasting. In Jesus, name, I pray. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“…in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:21-22
As believers in Jesus, trusting in His atoning sacrifice and being baptized in His name, we are a part of Christ’s Church and are built together with all other true believers to be a holy temple in which the LORD God dwells through His Spirit.
Grant, O Lord, that I remember, as one who trusts in Jesus Christ and His cross, that I am Your temple and that You dwell in me by Your Spirit. Keep me in the true faith for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone …” Ephesians 2:19-20
Those who have faith in Jesus Christ are no longer separated from God’s people but are fellow citizens with all the saints and are a part of Christ’s Church, the household of God. Their faith rests upon the foundation of God’s Word, the teaching of the apostles and prophets; and the teaching of salvation through faith alone in Jesus Christ and His cross is the central truth upon which their faith is built.
Thank You, O gracious God, for bringing me to know and trust in Christ Jesus, my Savior, that I might be a part of Your people and Church. Preserve me in this true and saving faith unto life everlasting. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
“And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.” Ephesians 2:17-18
In the Gospel, Christ Jesus promises forgiveness, pardon, and peace to all who despair of their own righteousness under the Law and look in faith to Him — to His holy life and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world. This peace is preached to both Jews and Gentiles because it is through Spirit-wrought faith in Christ that both have access to God the Father.
Grant to me, O Holy Spirit, through the preaching of the Gospel, the peace of sins forgiven through faith in Christ Jesus and His blood, shed on the cross for the sins of the world. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
