Spring Break Devo 3 - April 8th

:::: Read Ephesians 3 ::::

When I was in third grade, it was the absolute worst day of my week. It’s supposed to be Monday (back to school from the weekend), or Wednesday (the longest hump day ever, every week). For me, no, it wasn’t either of these, it was Friday. Fridays were supposed to be a day of awesome expectation of Saturday morning cartoons, and all-day play, followed by Bo Jangles biscuits, church and Chinese food for lunch on Sundays. It was supposed to be the day that you had a test in the morning and then your teacher led you slack for the rest of the afternoon watching movies and filmstrips (which none of you students probably know what are, look them up on Wikipedia… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filmstrip). Anyway, Fridays were not the best day, they were my worst. On Fridays I had to visit the principle, Mr. Hicks.

Mr. Hicks and I had a run in earlier in the year. I was regularly late to school, although my mother dropped me off most mornings with a note, and he wasn’t very happy about it. He and my teacher, Ms. Weaver, sent a note home, which I either didn’t give to my parents or which they forgot to sign. There I was stuck in Ms. Weaver’s class with an unsigned note that she was calling me to her desk to turn in. So, in all my 3rd Grade pride and confidence in my cursive writing which I had learned two weeks prior, I forged my mom’s signature… I forged it very poorly… but with confidence… but extremely poorly. You can see where this is going. As punishment for this, I was to return with all my graded papers and my attendance record to Mr. Hicks' office every Friday until school was out. This incident happened in October, so for seven months I saw Mr. Hicks every Friday.

When I read Ephesians 3, there is one verse that sticks out among them all. It may be different for you, but for me its verse 12, “In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” I never went to Mr. Hicks, a principal and ruler of our school with any freedom or confidence. However, I can approach the God of the universe… yeah, I said it, UNIVERSE… crawl up and sit in his lap. I can close my eyes and picture Him with me, and know that it’s not just my imagination. I have been set free from any type of chains or bonds that keep me back from throwing my arms around Him, and I have the confidence that He will throw His arms around me. I know that I’m His child and that He’s my “Daddy God” (Romans 8:13-16).

You see, God doesn't want you to bring your graded papers and attendance records to the office every Sunday when you come to church. He wants you to approach Him everyday with freedom and confidence that you are His child, made clean through Christ and faith in Him. So, go boldly, approach God today and let Him fill you with His immeasurably wide, long, high and deep love (v 18-19).

Rest well… five more days of break.
God loves you so much, and so do I.
-brent