December 5th, 25: Ephesians Unveiled Putting On the New Self and Living Out God’s Grace

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One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you.

TODAY'S EPISODE:

Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! In today’s episode, Hunter welcomes listeners to the fifth day of December and guides us through a heartfelt reading of Ephesians chapters 1 through 4—a slight detour to make things right after a mix-up with the daily scripture readings. As your faithful Bible reading coach, Hunter invites you to journey together through these transformative passages, emphasizing the profound truth of our new identity in Christ.

Blending the wisdom of scripture with relatable reflections—think “wax on, wax off” from The Karate Kid—Hunter reminds us that the Christian life is about putting on who we truly are in Christ and letting go of what no longer defines us. The episode flows into a time of prayer, encouragement, and practical updates, including a shoutout about the new Daily Radio Bible app designed to make sharing the podcast even easier.

Join Hunter as we dig deep into God’s word, pray for one another, and remember that, no matter what, you are loved—no doubt about it.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

Wax on, Wax off. Do you remember those words from Mr. Miyagi to Danielson in the movie Karate Kid? This passage in Ephesians today has a way of bringing that idea to mind. Our Christian life starts by putting on what we are, much like the “wax on” of the film, learning who we are in Christ—putting it on, letting it shape us.

Paul spends the better part of these chapters in Ephesians reminding us who we are, encouraging us to put it on. We are in Christ. God has made us new in Christ. He took those of us who were not his people and made us his own. He took those who were not citizens and made us citizens. He adopted us as his very children. All by means of his death on the cross. This is what he’s done for us. He forgave our sins, made us new by his grace. And that, my friend, is what you are: you are his, you are in him.

So put that on. God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. That is who you are. Put that on.

The Christian life begins and ends, and includes everything in between, by putting on Christ, living out who you already are. That’s the invitation—wax on.

But then comes wax off. We need to take off what we no longer are. You are not your old self. You are not the sum of all your old failures, your old feelings, lusts, desires, regrets, and shames from the past. No, take it off. That’s not who you are. Put on who he says you are in him. It’s by living out who you truly are that you’ll have the power to put away what you’re not. It doesn’t go the other way around. It doesn’t start with us trying to get rid of all the old stuff in order to finally live who we are. No, it begins with understanding and living in your true identity in Christ. Then you’ll have the power, perspective, and presence of God within you to enable you to live that life, to take off what needs to be taken off.

You can’t muster this up by trying really hard. There’s no physical, spiritual, emotional, or psychological regime that can equip you well en

TODAY'S PRAYERS:

Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.  

Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.  

And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen

And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray...

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen. 

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