Ephesians 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

I woke up yesterday with this address, Ephesians 2:14. That was unusual for me. I almost always receive a Word from the Lord with a remembrance of the scripture itself, not the address. I thought is unusual enough to search the passage, surrounding verses and context to this present time. I expected to receive a message for this blog. I was wrong. It was a personal message. It was meant for me, not to share.

I had a full day planned for yesterday and with the amount of time spent sorting out this meaning, I did not have enough time to write a blog. As I pondered the event, knowing this was personal and not meat for consumption, I wondered; how did I know this was personal? I can remember a time when I did not know. Those times were troublesome for others as I shared every little thing I received. My brothers and sisters in Christ often didn’t know what to make of my assertions. My inability to properly handle personal revelation hindered the body of Christ from functioning as intended.

I wonder if I am the only member of the body that has had this experience? Considering we are all subject to the same temptations, perhaps not. So the question becomes, how do I know how to properly handle revelations from the Lord? What am I to do? Pray? Seek counsel? Meditate?

Yesterday I relied on something different than those methods. I have used them before and not always with success. Yesterday I used it in context with my calling, who I am in Christ. I knew because I know who I am in Christ and I have learned not to be something I am not. Having an identity within the body is helpful in knowing how to deal with revelation information. It helps us to maintain the unity of peace within the body when we remain in character. One of the signs of distress within the body is when we see people acting out, not being themselves.

It is just as important to build relationships and recognizing gifts and callings within the body just for this reason. We are meant to exhort and encourage each other, to build the body up.

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another;

With one another, as a whole, a body, working together.

Psalm 119:7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.

I was saved in a Christian culture that acted as if everything was within God’s control. I understand their point of view now, but why didn’t they place at least a little importance of the process of participation? In today’s verse I would like to point to the phrase when I have learned. The mind has to take an active role in understanding. Knowledge does not come from slothfulness. That is not God’s desire for us.

Psalms 32:9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle,

Change comes from experience, active participation in those things the Father asks of us. Sure He has given us free will, but He has also given us His Word. To do His Word is to grow in character, in knowledge, and in relationship. The cake doesn’t just suddenly appear because you bought a cook book.

The second condition of today’s verse is uprightness of heart. Doing the right thing means nothing if the condition of the heart has not changed. It is more than begrudging willingness. To do because it is who you are in character is the goal. That takes a change of heart.

Jeremiah 17:9-11 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not;

Merely doing is insufficient, the end result is what counts. That brings me to the third point. I praise God by the life I live if I take an active role of cooperative participation. This is the life that pleases God.