Good morning people who are literally part of the family of God.

Ephesians 3:14-15 NIV For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 

I am Steve McCracken, and I am so honoured to be the son of David and Margaret McCracken. They have brought me up in the ways of God and they have wonderfully modelled what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus Christ. I am blessed!

As good as this is, it is essential that we understand that we carry the family name of the Lord God Almighty! We are not God – and any teaching that says this is heresy – but we do carry the title, name and character of Christian.

In the beginning, we were created in the image and likeness of God. We were formed by God, and we were intended to look like God; on earth as it is in heaven.

Sin marred the image of God. We lost our heavenly distinctive.

But then Jesus Christ – the very image of God – came to earth! Jesus re-presented God the Father to the earth. Now, in Christ, we too are called to grow more and more into the image of the One whose name we bear.

Ephesians 3:19 NIV And to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

The distinguishing mark of our lives should not be our natural heritage (as wonderful as this may be), nor should it be the nation in which we were born in, or the denomination that we are a part of.

The distinguishing mark of our lives is that we look like Jesus! Jesus looks like His Father, and we are to look like Jesus.

Father, thank You that You created us in Your image and that You gave us Your family name. This truth is too amazing to naturally comprehend, but I embrace it as Your will and Your purpose. Please transform me into the image of Your Son, from glory to glory, and by Your Holy Spirit. I love You Lord.

Watch episode #23 – ‘Bible Meditation: 2 Timothy 1:6-7’

Good morning people who have been brought near by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:17-18 NIV He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

I absolutely love the language and the truth that we see in these verses!

Many times we see some people as far away from God and others we see as near to God. This Scripture would reinforce this way of thinking. And yet, it is equally true that everyone is only one moment of revelation away from a life-changing encounter and transformation through Jesus Christ!

The worst of the worst and the best of the best can only have access to the Father by the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ. There is no other name by which people can be saved!

Ephesians 2:22 NIV And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Salvation is not the end of our spiritual journey, but rather, it is the start of the most amazing from glory to glory walk with God into a deeper place of intimacy with Him. Jesus is building His church, and this literally means that He is building our lives into His image. We have become and are increasingly becoming the dwelling place of God!  

Father, thank You that You choose us to be Your sons and daughters. Thank You that You called us while we were far away from You. Thank You that You drew us near to Yourself through the precious blood of Your Son Jesus Christ. Thank You that Jesus is building our lives to reflect Your glory more and more. We love you Lord.

Good morning people who were dead in sin but are now alive in Christ.

Ephesians 2:1, 3b-5 NIV As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins…Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Ephesians is such a rich Book! I pray that you allow the Holy Spirit to take you deep into the fullness of the truth that Paul writes about under the directorship of the Holy Spirit.

Before Christ, we were dead in our transgressions and sins.

Sometimes, the narrative today is around people trying to be good. I hear this a lot when talking with people about the purpose of life. Many believe that they can be good outside of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. I understand the sentiment, but it is not the truth. Yes, we can do some good works, but we can’t be good in the eyes of God without Christ.

Because of our sins, like everyone else, we were deserving of wrath.

I know that people don’t like and can’t accept this “heavy” language, but it is the reality of our standing with God outside of Jesus Christ. And while this is true, I am so thankful that this is not the end of the story!

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Jesus didn’t die for good people, but for us; sinners who could not save ourselves, even by our best efforts to be good!

We were dead in our transgressions and sins, but now, we are alive with Christ because of God’s love, mercy and grace! This is the gospel of Jesus Christ! This is the Good News!

Father, thank You for Jesus! Oh, what a beautiful Saviour! Thank You that You reached out to me while I was a sinner. Thank You that You didn’t leave me dead in my sins, but by Your grace, You saved me into eternal life. I love You Lord.

Good morning people who continue to grow in revelation of the fullness of truth.

Ephesians 1:22-23 NIV And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

I have an increasing burning passion for us as the people of God to not stop short of what God is wanting to do in us and through us for His glory!

God the Father raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the heavenly realms at His right hand. Jesus is rightfully the King of kings and the Lord of lords! He is risen, ascended and seated on the throne, signifying His royal authority.

But it doesn’t stop there!

God the Father’s desire is for the church, which is Jesus’ body, to be the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way!

Now, there’s much in here that is a mystery to me and naturally “not possible”, but God said it! At a minimum, there is infinitely more that we are yet to see, experience and live in as children of God and co-heirs with Christ!

I am reminded by the Holy Spirit that this is entered into through a revelation of who God is, and from there, a revelation of who we are in Christ.

Ephesians 1:17-19a NIV I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

Father, thank You that my reality is not based on my understanding. You are who You are, Jesus is who He is, the Holy Spirit is who He is, and by Your grace, I am who You say I am! Hallelujah! I pray that my spiritual eyes are open to see everything that You want me to see. May my life be lived fully alive for Your glory. I love You Lord.

Good morning people who have everything that you need in Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:3 NIV Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

So often we reduce blessings down to natural things that go according to our desires. It may look like a physical healing, a work promotion or a restored relationship (the list is endless). These are all wonderful, and indeed, they very much can be the blessings of God in our lives. Praise God!

But I believe there are deeper levels of blessings that God has given us, and many times, we are completely unaware of them.

Paul writes that God the Father has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Our greatest blessings are spiritual not natural.

I encourage you to slowly meditate on the following verses in Ephesians 1. They are full of indescribably good blessings that we have now received in Christ! And this is an absolutely essential part of what Paul wrote:

Our greatest blessings are IN CHRST.

The life-changing and life-giving spiritual blessings are not from Christ, but they are in Christ. This distinction is a game-changer! If you are born again, then you are blessed beyond measure because of the fullness of Christ who lives in you!

Father, words are insufficient to say thank You enough for providing every spiritual blessing in Your Son Jesus. Through Him, we are chosen, adopted, redeemed and forgiven. May this truth go deeper into our hearts through the revelation of the Holy Spirit. We am blessed! I love You Lord.