Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

June 22
Monday


OPEN
INVITATION

READ:
Ephesians 2:14-22
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Let us therefore come
boldly to the throne of
grace, that we may
obtain mercy and find
grace to help in time of
need. __Hebrews
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Versailles was made the capital of France by King Louis XIV
In 1682 and remained the capital (except for a short time) until 1789 when it was moved back to Paris. The beautiful palace of Versailles included an opulent 241-foot-long Hall of Mirrors. When a visitor approached the king, he had to curtsy every five steps as he walked the entire distance to meet the king sitting on his dazzling silver throne!

Foreign emissaries to France submitted to that humiliating ritual to court the French monarch's favor toward their country. By contrast, our God, the King of kings, invites His people to come to His throne freely. We can come to Him anytime--no advance appointments and no bowing required!

How grateful we should be that our heavenly Father is so much more inviting! "Through [Christ] we... have access by one Spirit to the Father" (Eph. 2:18). Because of this, the writer of Hebrews urges us to "come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb. 4:16).

Have you responded to God's open invitation? Come in awe and gratitude, for the God of this universe is willing to hear your petitions anytime. __C. P. Hia
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``````````````````You need to talk with God today,````````````````
`````````````````Your heart's bowed down with care;``````````````
````````````````Just speak the words you have to say--````````````
`````````````````He'll always hear your prayer. __Hess````````````
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Access to God's throne is always open.

************Today's Bible Reading __ Ephesians 2:14-22***********

14 For He Himself is our
peace, who has made both
one, and has broken down
the middle wall of
separation, 15 having
abolished in His flesh the
enmity, that is, the law of
commandments contained
in ordinances, so as to
create in Himself one new
man from the two, thus
making peace, 16 and that
He might reconcile them
both to God in one body
through the cross, thereby
putting to death the enmity.

17 And He came and
preached peace to you who
were afar off and to those
who were near. 18 For
through Him we both have
access by one Spirit to the
Father.

19 Now, therefore, you are
no longer strangers and
foreigners, but fellow
citizens with the saints and
members of the household
of God, 20 having been built
on the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Jesus
christ Himself being the
chief cornerstone, 21 in
whom the whole building,
being fitted together, grows
into a holy temple in the
Lord, 22 in whom you also
are being built together for
a dwelling place of god in
the Spirit.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Three key words summarize the teaching of this passage: enmity
(vv.15,16), peace (vv.14,15,17), and one (vv.14,15,16,18). Paul
describes how the Lord Jesus through the cross brought peace
between the Gentiles and the Jews (vv.14-18) and between God and
sinners (vv.15-16), one nation (v.19), one family (v.19), and one
holy temple (vv.20-22). SIM KAY TEE