What was God’s purpose for Jesus after He died on the cross and rose from the dead? Ephesians 1:20 tells us how and where God placed Jesus, “that (the resurrection power of God) raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. The next verses God tells us of Jesus’ ultimate authority, “21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.” Lastly in verses 22-23 God tells us why He placed Jesus there, “God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.”
It is important for us to know that Jesus’ work on the cross finished the issue of salvation and forgiveness, but not His work in the world now and in the future. God has a plan for all time that He reveals in the Bible. He refers to all believers here as the church, elsewhere the Bride of Christ. They are a body of believers that are filled with His Spirit, the Spirit that fills all things.
Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, we are connected with Him and to all other believers. We are all part of His body, the church. Using the analogy of a body for all believers shows were are connected, able to work together, have many parts and each have a unique job to accomplish for Him. So… how are you working within His body, the church, to accomplish what He has set out for you to do for Him? Are you cooperative with fellow believers? Do you work for His glory and not your own? Believers are not perfect, but sinners forgiven, and we need to be filled with His grace, mercy and love as we strive to work with others for the cause of Christ. Remember Christ said in John 13:34-35 “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
Spend some time in prayer today contemplating your place, work and spirit of cooperation within your local church. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you where you are doing well and where you need His help to do better. He is faithful and will show you.
Linda
us. Romans 5:8 “ but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God so loved us, even as sinners, that he sent Jesus to redeem and save us through His death on the cross. Imagine a love that great as to sacrifice your son for you and me! 1 Peter 2:24-25 “
He willingly gave Himself to save us! He healed us in His death from our sin and unrighteousness. Now instead of wandering in a world of sin, we are kept and looked after by the great Shepherd who looks out for our souls. What a wonderful picture of our loving God and Savior. 
is a familiar verse that gets right to the heart of God.
When you say ‘thank you’ today for a Valentine gift you receive, a card, note, flowers or someone simply saying ‘Happy Valentine’s Day’, think about thanking God too. Thank Him for sending Jesus. 
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“Thank you Jesus for bringing God’s Hope to me.” 
As we look at hope in scripture we see survival hope, hope in His Word and today I see 
Meditate on God’s steadfast love today and consider how that love gives you HOPE
Jesus was the full expression of God’s LOVE for us
How have you seen this to be true this season of thanksgiving? Is your mindset towards thanks contagious? “How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence.” 1 Thessalonians 1:9 Paul felt that the thanks he had for his fellow believers, for their faith and love for God, caused him to rejoice. He saw God working in their lives and this brought joy and thankfulness to his own worship. I would call that contagious thanks. Have you ever been thankful for someone or something and it caused you to give thanks to God? As we live our lives, we need to look for those things that God gives us that create ‘contagious thanks’ within our hearts. As we give thanks to Him in these situations, God will faithfully create in us a thanks that will be contagious and will result in our being in a constant state of thankfulness and joy. Paul left the Thessalonians with these words in 5:16-18 “
Develop that attitude of gratitude and watch it grow in your own life and then watch it rub off into the lives of those around you.
Who is God to you? To King David He was a personal God, one who saved, loved, protected, helped, restored,cared for and directed him throughout his life. In Psalm 118:28-29 David desires to give thanks to his God.
Make God personal today and move into a relationship with Him. 1 John 1:9 tells us how to know Jesus- “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Make this your first Thanksgiving with Him- ask for His forgiveness for the sins you’ve committed. You know the words you’ve used to hurt others, your selfishness, your unkind actions… the list for all of us goes on and on as this is the sin nature we were born with. Put a stop to this circle of sinning and invite Jesus into your life. Like David, you will have a personal relationship with God. That relationship is worthy of all our thanks and praise to Jesus who made it possible. Knowing Jesus will change your life! Praise and thank Him this Thanksgiving for this new life. If you know Jesus, thank Him today for His marvelous grace and forgiveness.
Give thanks to the 
I pray the joy of the Lord will be yours as you worship our creator, caretaker, good, loving, faithful, eternal and Almighty God.
