Manna for Your Morning

But now [at this very moment] in Christ Jesus you who once were [so very] far away [from God] have been brought near by the blood of Christ. — Ephesians 2:13 (AMP) Delight in the nearness of God. Don’t let the distractions of this world cause you to drift away from your Heavenly Father. It is good for us to draw near to God; Make the Lord GOD your refuge and place your trust in Him, that you may tell of all His works. (See Psalm 73:28 AMP) In Matthew 15:7-8, Jesus said: “You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me.’” Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22 NASB1995)

In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. — Ephesians 2:12-13 (NLT) You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. (Ephesians 2:2 NLT) But God, being [so very] rich in mercy, because of His great and wonderful love with which He loved us, even when we were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of our sins, He made us [spiritually] alive together with Christ (for by His grace—His undeserved favor and mercy—you have been saved from God’s judgment). (Ephesians 2:4-5 AMP) So now you Gentiles are...

But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. — Ephesians 2:13 (NLT) Once we were dead because of our disobedience and our many sins. We lived in this world without God and without hope. (See Ephesians 2:1,12 NLT) But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) (Ephesians 2:4-5 NLT) Our Heavenly Father gave us life and brought us near to Him. Therefore, let us approach the throne of our gracious God so that we may receive mercy for our failures and find His amazing grace to help us when we need it most. (See Hebrews 4:16) He is our only hope.

But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. — Ephesians 2:13 (NASB) The nearness of God is our good... (Psalm 73:8). Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. (Ephesians 2:18 NLT) We have been given 24-hour access to the throne room of God. That's better than backstage passes for your favorite artist/performer. This is more exciting than club or box seats at the football game of your choice. What an honor and privilege, that we can approach the throne of God with confidence. So now we come freely and boldly to where love is enthroned, to receive mercy’s kiss and discover the grace we urgently need to strengthen us in our time of weakness. (Hebrews 4:16 TPT) Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. — Isaiah 55:6 (NASB)

But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. — Ephesians 2:13 (NLT) As children of God, our heavenly Father brings us near. The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth (Psalm 145:18 NKJV). He called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most (Hebrews 4:16 NLT). Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:22 NLT).

But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. — Ephesians 2:13 (NLT) In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope (Ephesians 2:12). Life apart from Christ is a life with no hope. So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family (Ephesians 2:19). As members of God’s family we have been given access to enjoy a close intimate relationship with our heavenly Father. We are not visitors. We don’t wear welcome out. Our heavenly Father wants us close to Him at all times. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need i...

  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. — Ephesians 2:13 (NKJV) At one time we lived in this world without God and without hope. Through Jesus we both have access by one Spirit to the Father (Ephesians 2:18). Now, therefore, we are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, (Ephesians 2:19). We are no longer outsiders, but sons and daughters of the Most High God. The only walls between us and our heavenly Father are the ones we have built. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most (Hebrews 4:16 NLT). Amen!