Freedom and Confidence

Date: February 28, 2023

I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional. 

B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Word and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study and savor
S - Summarize and Sha

You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?

Bible Scripture Verse – Ephesians 3:12

"In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence."

Listen for God’s Voice

Heavenly Father, Help us to hold on to the truth of today’s scripture and to approach you with boldness and assurance, knowing that we are loved and accepted by you. Strengthen our faith so that we may trust in you in all circumstances and come to you with the confidence that only comes from knowing you.

May we always remember that we have been set free from the burden of sin and can come to you with the assurance of your love and grace. Thank you for the gift of salvation and for the privilege of coming to you in prayer.

Explore History – Who wrote it, when and to what audience? Key people in the story?

The apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Ephesians when he was under house arrest around 60-62 AD there, which is now modern day Turkey. He was discussing the mystery of God’s plan of salvation that was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit which was for both Gentiles and Jews. In the previous verses, he had been asking the Ephesian believers to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit so that Christ could dwell in their hearts through faith. And for today’s verse, he is emphasizing that through their Faith, they have access to God, and can approach Him with freedom and confidence.  This was new to many of them because the Jewish people were always known as God’s chosen people, and they alone had access to God but only through their laws and sacrificial system.  Paul’s message was telling them that both Jews and Gentiles had equal access to God. 

Study and Savor – Key Words

The phrase "approach God" speaks to the idea that believers have access to God and can come to Him in prayer and worship. This access to God is made possible through faith in Jesus Christ, who is the mediator between God and humanity.

The phrase "with freedom" speaks to the idea that believers have been set free from the burden of sin and can come to God without fear or condemnation. This freedom is a result of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, which has made a way for believers to be reconciled to God.

The phrase "confidence" speaks to the idea that believers can approach God with boldness and assurance, knowing that they are loved and accepted by Him. This confidence is a result of the assurance that comes from knowing that one's sins have been forgiven through faith in Jesus Christ.

Summarize and Share

What a powerful reminder that WE have access to God through faith in Jesus Christ. We can approach God with freedom and confidence, knowing that we are loved and accepted by Him.

That doesn’t mean that we don’t sometimes struggle to fully embrace this truth. We may feel like we're not good enough or that our sins have made us unworthy of approaching God. But the reality is that through faith in Jesus Christ, we have been reconciled to God and can come to Him with boldness and assurance.

So how can we apply Ephesians 3:12 to our daily lives? First, we need to remind ourselves of the truth that we have access to God through faith in Jesus Christ. We need to let go of any doubts or fears that are holding us back and trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross. We need to practice approaching God with freedom and confidence. This means praying with boldness, worshiping with abandon, and living our lives with the assurance that we are loved and accepted by God. It means not allowing our mistakes or failures to hold us back from experiencing the fullness of God's love and grace.

We also must remember that our access to God is not based on our own merit or performance, but on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We can approach God with confidence, not because of who we are or what we've done, but because of who Christ is and what He has done for us.

Let's practice Ephesians 3:12 today. Approach God with freedom and confidence, knowing that we are loved and accepted by Him through faith in Jesus Christ. And let's trust that as we do, we will experience the fullness of His love and grace in our lives.

Bible Cross Reference

Romans 5:1-2 - "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

Hebrews 4:14-16 - "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

1 Timothy 2:5-6 - "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time."

John 14:6 - "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"