October 2, 2023 – Our Daily Bread Devotional for Today, Monday
October 2, 2023 – Our Daily Bread Devotional for Today, Monday ODB Devotional Message written by Kenneth Petersen and Insight by J.R. Hudberg
Todayās ODB Devotional Topic: The Masterpiece Within
Key Verse: For we are Godās handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
Today’s Scripture: Ephesians 2:1ā10
Our Daily Bread Devotional For October 2, 2023 Insight:
Ephesians 2:1ā10 contains three significant shifts. First, Paul speaks of a shift from death to life: āBecause of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressionsā (vv. 4ā5). The second shift is connected to the first. When we were brought from death to life, our actions changed. We shifted from following āthe ways of this worldā (v. 2), being ādisobedientā (v. 2), and āgratifying the cravings of our fleshā (v. 3) to āgood works, which God prepared in advance for us to doā (v. 10). Finally, Paul switches between the second person you and the first person us. This unites all who call on the name of Jesus into one family.
October 2, 2023 – Our Daily Bread Devotional for Today MESSAGE:
Writing in The Atlantic, author Arthur C. Brooks tells of his visit to the National Palace Museum in Taiwan, which contains one of the largest collections of Chinese art in the world. The museum guide asked, āWhat do you think of when I ask you to imagine a work of art yet to be started?ā Brooks said, āAn empty canvas, I guess.ā The guide replied, āThereās another way to view it: The art already exists, and the job of artists is simply to reveal it.ā
In Ephesians 2:10, the word handiwork, sometimes translated as āworkmanshipā or āmasterpiece,ā is from the Greek word poiÄma, from which we derive our word poetry. God has created us as works of art, living poems. However, our art has become obscured: āAs for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sinsā (v. 1). To paraphrase the words of the museum guide, āThe art [of us] is already there, and itās the job of the Divine Artist to reveal it.ā Indeed, God is restoring us, His masterpieces: āGod, who is rich in mercy, made us aliveā (vv. 4ā5).
As we go through challenges and difficulties, we might take comfort in knowing that the Divine Artist is at work: āIt is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purposeā (Philippians 2:13). Know that God is working in you to reveal His masterpiece.
REFLECT: What are some of the ways that you, as Godās artwork, have become dimmed? How do you feel Heās working in your life these days?
PRAY: Creator God, thank You for making me one of Your masterpieces.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Isaiah 14ā16; Ephesians 5:1ā16