Nearer to God daily devotional | Reformed Perspective

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Daily devotional

September 25 - God’s dwelling place

“In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” - Ephesians 2:22 Scripture reading: 1 Peter 2:1-3 ...

Daily devotional

September 24 - A solid foundation

“…built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.” - Ephesians 2:20 Scripture reading: 1 Co...

Daily devotional

September 23 - Citizenship

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” - Ephesians 2:1...

Daily devotional

September 22 - Access to the Father

“For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.” - Ephesians 2:18 Scripture reading: John 10:22-30 I’ve always wondered ...

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Daily devotional

September 21 - Preaching peace

“And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.” - Ephesians 2:17 Scripture reading: Romans 10: 1-21 We have a 30 acre lake behind our house. This past winter my family watched as a bald eagle killed a Canadian goose on the ice. All the other geese watched from a distance. It was quite a bloody spectacle to behold. As I write this now, I am watching a bald eagle on that same small lake. As he flies, the geese start to honk. The eagle is not bringing any peace to the goose population. But it is peace that you should be looking forward to hearing today, the Lord’s Day. After all, what gospel does a minister have to bring but the gospel of peace. It was the message from the angels to the shepherds on Christmas evening, and it is the message that is to be preached to those who are far and near. The Ephesians were in the category of “far off.” But through the preaching of the gospel of peace, they had been brought near. Maybe today you feel far off. Maybe you wonder where you stand before the Lord, and what message He might have for you. Use this day to draw near, not only to worship, but to hear and believe in faith, all that Christ has done for you. We are granted peace. Suggestions for prayer Ask God to use the preaching of the Word to strengthen your faith today. Pray for your pastor that he might faithfully preach the gospel of peace. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 20 - One new man

“…that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace…” - Ephesians 2:15b Scripture reading: Galatians 2:15-21 We are taught in Genesis 2 and Ephesians 5 that when two are united in marriage they become one. We can understand this as a metaphor for the intimacy and union in marriage. When it comes to our union with Christ, this is highlighted above all. Union with Christ is really the foundation of our justification. I fear that as Christians we do not think of this often enough. In Galatians 2, Paul confesses that through his union with Christ, it is no longer he who lives, but Christ who lives through him. Think of the implications of that beautiful truth. The believer is called to daily die to sin and self, and live anew to Christ. This is called daily conversion. The way this can take place is through the leading of the Holy Spirit, the promised Comforter (John 14, 16). It is no longer us against God. The hostility and the enmity have been removed. By grace and through faith we are united to God in Jesus Christ. A marriage in the Lord can be a life-long fulfilling joy of love and peace. But nothing can compare to the extent of the unity in which Jesus is united to his bride, the church, which Ephesians 5 calls a profound mystery. Think through the implications of that relationship in your life. Suggestions for prayer Thank God for your union with Christ. Ask God to help you fight against sin through that beautiful union. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 19 - Our peace

“For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.” - Ephesians 2:14 Scripture reading: Psalm 139: 1-24 In the ancient world, when one king would visit another, he would bring some type of gift to present to the other king. The importance of such a gift was that it was a sign of respect and peace. The visiting king did not want to go to war with the other king. It was something that signified that peace. In Jesus Christ, we not only receive a picture that signifies peace, we receive the actual peace. The need for peace was occasioned by the sin of our first parents. In Adam, we waged war on God. He is the offended Creator. But in Christ, that wall which separated us from God has been broken down. This was pictured at the death of Jesus Christ. When our Lord gave up his spirit upon the cross, the curtain in the temple was torn in two. This pictured our access into the very throne room of God. The Holy of Holies had been opened. So, the question arises, how can we approach the throne room of God empty handed. We have no present to bring. Our works fall short of even a minimal understanding of the law and righteousness. What we bring before God is none other than Jesus Christ. He is our peace, and we are accepted in him. Suggestions for prayer Thank God for the peace accomplished in Jesus Christ. Ask God to grow you in your love for your Savior. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 18 - Brought near

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” - Ephesians 2:13 Scripture reading: Acts 8:26-40 There is a legend in Ethiopia that after the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8, the Ethiopian eunuch then took the gospel down to Ethiopia, and established the Christian church in that place. That legend might be true; I am not sure. However, I do know that Ethiopia is not very close to Jerusalem. As the Ethiopian eunuch took the gospel South to Ethiopia the new converts there would have been brought near. But where were they brought near? Was it to Israel? Jerusalem? In a sense, yes. They were brought near to spiritual Israel. They were brought near to the covenant, the inheritance, etc. Being “far off” isn’t so much a geographical indicator as it is a spiritual indicator. The contrast is extreme. Far off and near are two opposites when it comes to grace. It is the Lord Jesus Christ who bridges that gap. Now, in Christ, all believers are one (Gal. 3:29). The dividing wall has been broken down. Pentecost made it clear that the gospel is for all nations. That is good news for us. The comfort we can have in Christ’s work, is that when we are brought near by the blood of Jesus, we will never again be far off. We belong to him, in life and in death. Be comforted in the gospel of being near unto God. Suggestions for prayer Thank God that you have been brought near to him and his people through the blood of Jesus. Pray that God might bring many more unto him. (Pray that prayer with specific people in mind) Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 17 - For a purpose

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” - Ephesians 2:10 Scripture reading: James 2:14-26 God’s salvation is not only about our eternal destiny, it is also about our present reality. It is easy in the midst of the trials of this life and the burden of growing older, to merely be thinking and dwelling on the life that is to come. We should, after all, have a heavenly mindedness. However, God calls us in this life, to live a life of godliness and good works. The Christian life is to be one characterized by a desire to grow more and more Christ-like. But we must not forget that this isn’t something we work on our own. We are “his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus…” In Jesus Christ, all things are new. Parents seek to teach their children good habits. The power of habit is powerful. The picture given in Ephesians 2:10 deals with our manner of walking. By faith we walk. Hebrews 11 gives us the example of saints that have gone before us. To live by faith is to live in reliance upon God. After all, we are his workmanship. He has redeemed us for a purpose. On the one hand God’s purpose in us can be simply understood as a whole life redeemed in Christ. On the other hand, God has special and particular purposes for us unto godliness. Seek that out through prayer and wisdom. Suggestions for prayer Ask God to help you balance a heavenly and an earthly mindedness. Thank God for granting your life purpose in Christ. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 16 - All of grace

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” - Ephesians 2:8 Scripture reading: Titus 3:1-11 Who can be proud of what he receives? This adage is sometimes asked to teach children about gratitude. It is one thing to be born with natural talent, it is another thing to perfect a craft, skill or ability. Natural talent is a gift. As Paul writes to the Ephesians, it seems as if he can anticipate potential arrogance or superiority for those who are believers. However, this is stripped away when the focus is put upon grace. This is a gift from God. God was not obligated to give it to us as though we deserved it. We deserved the very opposite. It isn’t a question about “fairness”….otherwise no one would be saved. It is all of grace. The former slave trader, turned Christian knew this. John Newton wrote, “Amazing grace! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!...Twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.” Let that grace of God be precious to you not only upon the hour you first believe. Let it be precious all the days of your life. Meditate upon it, tell others about it, and live through it. You don’t have to be a former slave trader like John Newton to be a witness of God’s grace. You simply have to recognize what you deserve and what you receive. Amazing grace! Suggestions for prayer Thank God for the ways you can see his grace in your life. Ask God for opportunities to speak of the grace you have received. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 15 - Resurrection

“…even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.” - Ephesians 2:5 Scripture reading: John 11:17-28 When our Lord Jesus Christ raised his friend Lazarus from the dead after having been dead for four days, the Jewish leaders had a serious problem on their hands. No one can be raised from the dead and they knew it. It was so serious that the leaders made plans to arrest and kill Lazarus. A walking and talking testimony to Jesus’ power was not what they wanted around Jerusalem. This is a precursor to Christ’s resurrection and ours. Sometimes in life you hear stories of people who are very sick and end up getting better. Those are times of rejoicing. But the problem we have seen here is that we are not spiritually sick. If so, then maybe some medicine could help us. Eph. 2:5 says that we were dead. Condemnation was ours. We could not atone for our transgressions. This contrasts our new life together, in Christ. The great difference between Lazarus and us, is that Lazarus had to die again after his resurrection. We are promised in John 11:25b “…Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” Right after Jesus says those words in John 11, he weeps and then he tells Lazarus to “come out”. Who has the power to raise the dead? Only the one who would leave the tomb empty on Easter morning. “By grace you have been saved.” Suggestions for prayer Thank God for your own spiritual resurrection. Ask God to give you the vision to await the future bodily resurrection from the dead. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 14 - But God…

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us.” - Ephesians 2:4 Scripture reading: Romans 3:9-31 In two simple words, we see the great transition in Ephesians 2. The same thing takes place in Romans 3. Romans 3:21 begins with “But now….” The word “but” shows a transition. The word “but” is a conjunction that connects two ideas together that contrast each other. We had been looking at our natural, sinful and fallen condition. However, God does not leave us there. We are moved from the position of “in Adam” or “in sin” to a place of being “in Christ.” This contrast cannot be overexaggerated. These are polar opposites. We live in a world where Sunday is like a second Saturday. As an unbeliever you can catch up on yard work, you can sleep in, and you can carve out the day for yourself. But for those redeemed in Christ, their Sunday is altogether different. Our regular work in the office, field or classroom stops on this day of rest. On Sunday, we orient our lives around worship, fellowship, service and rest. Why is it so important to be in worship today? Besides God telling us to, we recognize our need for spiritual food. In the coming week we will be in a spiritual battle, and only God can supply the spiritual armour we need (Eph. 6:10ff.). We were lost in our sin and misery, and the condition into which we have been placed in Adam. “But God” does not leave us there. We are now united to Christ by grace, through faith. Suggestions for prayer Thank God for a clear contrast in salvation from unbelief to faith. Ask God to help you sanctify this day for his glory. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 13 - Our natural condition (II)

“And you were dead in…..sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world…carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” - Ephesians 2:1-3 Scripture reading: Exodus 32: 1-35 The narrative of the golden calf in Exodus 32 is a sad one. Shortly, after receiving the Ten Commandments, the Israelites break the 2nd commandment in an Egyptian way. They knew that Yahweh had brought them out of Egypt. In that sense, they were not explicitly breaking the first commandment. Their great problem was that they sought to worship Yahweh THROUGH the means of the golden calf. This was forbidden. What they gave into, is the desire of the flesh. The nations around them had idols. Egypt certainly had idols, and the flesh wants to see with the eyes what is worshipped. That same mentality of discontentment, creeps into our hearts. We are often not satisfied with the means God provides for us to worship him. We have to fight the temptation to improve what God provides. This is especially the case when it comes to worship. Tomorrow you will, Lord willing, sit under the word with the ordinary means of grace to worship the Lord. Trust that God provides us all that we need. Eph. 2:3 calls us “…by nature children of wrath.” Let us not live “by nature”, but rather by “super-nature” redeemed in Jesus Christ. Suggestions for prayer Ask God to remove any idols from your hearts. Thank God for giving us the means of grace (i.e. the preaching of the Word and sacraments). Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 12 - Our natural condition (I)

“And you were dead in…..sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world…carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” - Ephesians 2:1-3 Scripture reading: Romans 1:18-25 An accurate portrait of someone will include the “warts and all.” In these days of airbrushing and photo-shopping to make things look better, the Bible paints a picture of humans in their depravity. To put it mildly, the picture isn’t pretty. The words described in Eph. 2 are that we are dead in sin, and we are children of wrath. Romans 1 paints an even fuller picture that lays out the need for redemption in Christ. As sinners in Adam, we have become twisted and perverted spiritually. We trade the truth for the lie, and our hearts, according to the Heidelberg Catechism, are inclined to “hate God and my neighbor.” (H.C. LD 2, QA 5) The reason the Apostle Paul paints humans in such an awful light, is because the clearer we can see our dire situation, the more glorious the following verses will become. They will exalt the love and mercy of God to those who have waged war on him. The enemies of God, by grace and through faith, will become friends of God in Christ. The place, the sinner outside of grace walks, is a path that follows the course of this world. It is a path that rejects God and His ways. It is a world of lies and false promises. It is a world that promises joy and satisfaction, but it cannot supply either. All of us would be walking that path if left to ourselves. Let us flee the course of this world. Suggestions for prayer Ask God for strength to reject the course of this world. Ask God to open your eyes to the false allurement of the present age. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 11 - Head of the church

“And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church.” - Ephesians 1:22 Scripture reading: Ephesians 5:22-33 In Ephesians 5, we have a beautiful comparison which sets the stage for Christian marriage. In that passage, the husband-and-wife relationship is mirrored with the church’s relationship to Jesus Christ. In a world that rejects biblical norms for marriage, Ephesians 5 is a refreshing picture of the unity and love that can flourish in an obedient marriage. Though Ephesians 5 focuses primarily on marriage, Ephesians 1:22 is speaking of the headship of Christ. As the head of the church, the church is to be obedient to Christ. This enables the church to direct her worship according to the scriptures. The means of grace and Christian discipline are all Christ-centered and focused. The call of the gospel is the call of Christ as he calls in the lost sheep of spiritual Israel. As the Lord sits at the right hand of God the father, He continues to rule His church through her office bearers. That is a tremendous calling for anyone in the special offices. There are many applications flowing from the truth of the headship of Christ over the church. Many of these applications flow out of the word pictures given in the Bible to describe the church. In the New Testament, the church is called a light on a hill. Believers are salt and light. Christians, according to 2 Corinthians 5:20 are “…ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us…” I cannot think of a weightier calling than being an ambassador for Christ. Suggestions for prayer Ask God to make you a faithful ambassador for Christ. Ask God to direct you in ways you can serve the head of the church. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 10 - Christ’s exaltation

“…that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” - Ephesians 1:20-21 Scripture reading: Philippians 2:5-11 Philippians 2:5-11 might have possibly been an early Christian hymn now contained in the scriptures. The Apostle’s Creed follows the same flow of Christ’s humiliation which leads into His exaltation. The exaltation of Jesus Christ is important for many reasons. We not only have our own flesh in heaven, but He sits at God’s right hand as our Mediator. Hebrews calls him our Great High Priest. He also is the king of the church. He has “authority and power and dominion” given to him by the Father. Jesus’ exaltation also coincides with the pouring out of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise of a comforter (John 14 and 16). Praise the Lord. From Ephesians 1, we see this exaltation of Christ was orchestrated by God who raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him in the heavenly places. Matthew 28:16 says that “All authority in heaven and on Earth” has been given to Christ. He is the ruler and head of the church. He is also the ruler of the nations, and in fulfillment of Gen. 12:3, all the nations of the Earth are being blessed through Him. This rule of Christ, Ephesians 1:21 says, does not end in this life, but extends beyond the grave and into the new age to come after His return. Through faith, we are secured in an eternal relationship with the Lamb of God. It is comforting that there is nothing that can sever that beautiful covenant relationship with our Savior (Rom. 8). Suggestions for prayer Thank God for the mediator at his right hand. Ask God to increase your trust in Jesus. We are exalted in Christ…thank the Lord! Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 9 - Praying for the saints

“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him.” - Ephesians 1:16-17 Scripture reading: Psalm 30:1-12 If you are a student of the New Testament, it is not a surprise that the Apostle Paul was in constant prayer for the people of God. The form of prayer mentioned in the text today is a prayer of thanksgiving. When praying for others, we might be quickest to think of supplicating prayers. In that, we bring the needs of others before God. In a prayer of thanksgiving, the apostle is thanking God for his church in Ephesus. God puts people in our lives to be a blessing to us. We can be encouraged and strengthened from others. How often is it the case that our prayers are focused only upon ourselves. Believers have different patterns and habits of prayer, and God gives us that freedom. We do not have to pray 5 Muslim-type prayers a day. But it might be helpful to write down prayer joys, thanksgivings, and concerns and work through them. It can be a true encouragement to know that someone is praying for you. If you are praying for someone, you might want to tell them. Not only will this encourage them in the communion of the saints, but it avails much (James 5:16). We can pray for all people, but the example here is a special prayer for the saints. May God make us people of prayer. Suggestions for prayer Think about who or what your churches can pray for. Thank God for bringing fellow praying believers into your life. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 8 - Sealed by the Holy Spirit

“…were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” - Ephesians 1:13b-14 Scripture reading: 2 Corinthians 1:12-24 When a sinner believes in Jesus Christ, they are given the promised Holy Spirit. Throughout the ministry of our Lord, Jesus continued to promise the Holy Spirit (e.g. John 14, 16). The language used in Ephesians speaks of being sealed with the Holy Spirit and being guaranteed an inheritance. The inheritance is promised and secured, but it is not possessed yet at this time. This is a reference to the completion of our total salvation in Jesus Christ. In the Christian life it can be easy to get discouraged from time to time. This world is one of constant toil and struggles. However, the child of God knows the best is yet to come. It is secured. It is guaranteed by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the infallible down payment on our eternal life. God will never renege on his promise to us in grace. What this affords us is trust and assurance. No matter what takes place in this life, we have the Holy Spirit. We never need to fear if God will remove his love from us. His truth is sure. He is faithful and good. As the Lord was about to leave his disciples, He told them in John 16:13a “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth…” Suggestions for prayer Thank God for the work of the Holy Spirit. In particular, thank him for the Spirit’s work of convicting you from sin, assuring you of love, guiding you in truth, and sealing you. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 7 - The word of truth

“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” - Ephesians 1:13 Scripture reading: Romans 10: 5-17 Each Lord’s Day we have the privilege to sit under the preaching of the Word. God has ordained that the word preached would be the primary way that faith is produced and strengthened. It is your daily meal served by the Lord himself through the mouthpiece of the minister. As we think about Ephesians 1:13, we are reminded that the preaching is to be heard. It is audible, entering the ear. It should be intelligible, impacting the mind with understanding. The content is to be centered on the “word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.” Week after week the preacher is called to explain, illustrate, and apply the gospel of your salvation. Since this is gospel preaching, it is all for the glory of God. He is the giver of grace and faith. So, preaching is to be heard, but it must be believed. The Christian is not called to believe in a sermon, they are called rather, to believe in the object of faith, the Lord Jesus Christ. As you sit under God’s word today, ask the Lord to grow and strengthen your love for the Lord Jesus Christ. John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” How great is the love of our Savior for us! Suggestions for prayer Ask God to grow your love for Jesus. Pray for your pastor today as he preaches the word of truth. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 6 - Inheritance obtained

“In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.” - Ephesians 1:11 Scripture reading: Psalm 16:1-11 When the will of a wealthy man or woman is read, the family might gather around to see what has been left to them. One might receive a house or a car, maybe a large sum of money or other earthly treasures. In Psalm 16, which speaks of our inheritance, it is God Himself who is the inheritance of his people. “The Lord is my chosen portion…indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. (Psalm 16:5-6)” Sometimes an older relative might tell you what they will leave to you upon the time of their death, while other times you might have no idea. God tells us what our inheritance will be. It is none other than an eternal and unfading salvation. In Eph. 1:11 we read that “we have obtained.” How do we obtain this inheritance? It almost makes it sounds like we earned it or deserve it. However, like our adoption as sons (v. 5), this is all of God’s grace. As we have seen, our election is not merely unto eternal life. Our election in Christ is for this present life as well. It is rooted in our identity and calling before the Lord. Would you live your life any different if you knew that you were going to receive the largest inheritance ever given? How might our inheritance in Christ impact your living day by day? Suggestions for prayer Thank God for your gracious inheritance which is yours by faith. Commit to live out that family identity in Christ. Ask God for help. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 5 - All things in him

“… as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” - Ephesians 1:10 Scripture reading: Revelation 21:1-27 Ephesians 1 takes us from the beginning of the world with our election in verse 4, all the way to the consummation of all things in verse 10. Today's scripture reading, Revelation 21, is often read at funerals or in cemeteries. The reason this is appropriate at the time of death, is because it reminds us that the best is yet to come. God’s grand plan of redemption reaches even beyond the elect image bearers. They obviously are the ones who receive the grace of salvation because of sin. Nevertheless, as the whole creation groans (Rom. 8:22) under the weight of sin, so the whole creation will be impacted by the work of Christ. All things are being united to Christ. Once again, this verse can be easily abused by false teachers, but when it is rightly understood, it affords us greater reason to praise God. It also furnishes us with the call to stewardship since it is clear that God cares beyond simply saving souls eternally. The old world will be purged with fire. Rev. 21 tells us it will pass away. Let that remind us not to set our anchor too deep into this world. But the consummation of all things in Christ will restore the glory of the creation that was lost in the fall. Let us remain planted in this present world with an eye for that which is to come at the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Suggestions for prayer Thank God for his glorious work of uniting all things in Christ. Pray “Maranatha” Lord Jesus, come quickly. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 4 - Adopted as sons

“He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.” - Ephesians 1:5 Scripture reading: Romans 8:1-17 One of the most beautiful pictures of God’s love is the teaching of adoption. The Heidelberg Catechism teaches in Answer 33 that we are God’s children by adoption. This language is seen throughout the scriptures. Already in the Old Testament, God speaks of calling a people that were not his own, to be his own. That is adoption. It also shouldn’t surprise us that God chose a concept from the realm of the family to describe his gracious relationship with his children. Ephesians 1:5 uses the term “adoption…as sons.” What about women? Women are in a sense adopted as sons. Some places in the scriptures speak of those adopted as children of God, but not in Ephesians 1. The reason for this is because it is the sons who had the right to inheritance in the ancient world. Down in Eph. 1:11 we read, “In him we have obtained an inheritance.” This inheritance is obtained because of our sonship in Jesus Christ. It isn’t very good news that you are adopted if the adoptive father is wicked and abusive. But, God, our adoptive father is loving and compassionate. Psalm 103:13 says, “As a father shows compassion on his children, so the LORD shows compassion on those who fear him." Thank the Lord for your adoption as sons, for if you are a son of God, that ensures you that you have an eternal inheritance. Suggestions for prayer Thank God for his adopting love to you. Ask God to comfort you in difficult times with the knowledge that He is a compassionate Father in heaven. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 3 - Chosen unto godliness

“…that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love…” - Ephesians 1:4b Scripture reading: 2 Peter 2:1-12 Sometimes in professional sports you hear about role players who are on a team for a particular purpose. In baseball, it might be a closing pitcher or pinch hitter. In hockey it might be a strong enforcer who protects the star of the team. Their role is their purpose for being on the team. In Ephesians 1:4, we see immediately the purpose to which God has chosen his people. They are chosen to be holy and blameless before him. To be holy before God refers to the fact that they are set apart. They are set apart from the whole lot of fallen humanity, and set apart as a child of God. I Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Their position is unto holiness. Their calling is unto godliness. To be blameless before God in Eph. 1:4 does not mean to be morally free from any flaw. Rather, it means to have a heart devoted to God alone. The great heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11 could be called blameless even though each one of them was a sinner saved by grace. The role God calls us is to seek first the kingdom of God. Our Lord said in John 14:15 “If you love me, keep my commandments.” That is the call for those set apart in Christ. Suggestions for prayer Thank God that our identity is found in Jesus Christ. Ask God to continue to sustain you by His grace and Holy Spirit so that you might seek first His kingdom. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 2 - Chosen in him

“…even as he chose us in Him before the foundation of the world….” - Ephesians 1:4 Scripture reading: Romans 8:29-39 Ephesians 1:3-14 is the longest sentence in the Bible. In our English translations it adds some punctuation to break it up, but in the original, it is one sentence. Try diagramming that sentence. In that long sentence, we see the preposition “in” used often. In verse 4, we see that we are chosen “in Him.” To be chosen in Christ puts us in a unique relationship. We are then “in Christ.” Before the foundation of the world, in God’s electing love, we were given to Christ. We can understand this in two ways. We can understand that in election. God ordained Christ’s work on behalf of his people. This is the primary way we should understand this. Another way to understand this is in terms of a relationship, which we will see explained in the following verses. Since it is a relationship established in eternal election, it is an eternal relationship. Romans 8 makes this clear in such a beautiful way as it describes the unbreakable chain of salvation in Rom. 8:29. This truth is never simply theoretical. It is practical. This is why Romans 8 ends by saying that there is nothing that will, “…be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:39b)” Our election “in Him” ensures that our eternal life will be in the presence of the Lord. Though we might face many trials and temptations, we are held fast by God’s eternal decree of salvation. Suggestions for prayer Thank God for his electing love in Jesus Christ. Ask God to give you a heartfelt fervor to walk in fellowship with Him. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

Daily devotional

September 1 - Introduction to Ephesians

Our devotions this month will be taken from Ephesians 1-3. The book of Ephesians can easily be separated into two parts. The first half, which we will be studying together this month, deals with the comfort and peace we receive from being found in Christ. This deals with the teaching of salvation. The second half of the book is an application of that salvation to different areas of life. In the letter to the Ephesians, we see the Apostle Paul writing, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to the believers in Ephesus. An interesting aspect of the Ephesian church is that we know more about it than most of the other local churches in the New Testament. We know that the Apostle Paul had been there on his second missionary journey with his friends Priscilla and Aquilla (Acts 18-20). The year was 52 A.D. We also know that the pastor in Ephesus was a young man named Timothy. Paul wrote two letters to this young pastor of Ephesus, which are also found in the New Testament. Paul would return to Ephesus to live for three and a half years. Ephesus was the second largest city in the known world behind Rome. It contained one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world which was the Temple to Diana. It was an important city, and it housed an important church. In this letter to the Ephesians, Paul is laying out the glorious mystery of God’s salvation. He begins with election and carries his teaching all the way to glory, ending this section (3:20-21) with a doxology to the Lord. Join me, as we seek comfort in the glorious works of God this month. A peaceful greeting "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." - Ephesians 1:2 Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:1-23 You greet your grandmother differently than you greet your elder at church. Though you love both, you likely would not give the elder a kiss on the cheek when you see him. Greetings are important. As we begin our look at the letter to the Ephesians, we see a greeting of grace and peace. That is a comforting thought. Many cultures greet each other with the term “shalom” or “salaam” which means peace. But the peace of Eph. 1:2 is altogether different. The source of the greeting is from where the comfort is taken. The grace and peace are from the first two members of the Trinity, the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The reason the believers in Ephesus can be greeted with grace and peace is because of the work of the Father and the Son. That work will be fleshed out as we make our way through this important letter. Really, this verse contains a summary of the entire letter to the Ephesians. It is this: we have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. This is all by grace. On this Labour Day, as you thank God for work and your daily bread, pause and thank him for the greatest work. You can call God your Father in heaven because of Jesus Christ His Son. Ask God to help you understand more clearly during this month the true peace which surpasses understanding. Suggestions for prayer Praise God that we can have peace with Him through Christ. Ask that God would grow you in your love for him as you reflect upon his glorious work on your behalf. Rev. Steve Swets graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2007. He is presently serving at Redeemer United Reformed Church in St. John, IN. He previously served United Reformed Churches in Abbotsford, B.C. and Hamilton, ON. In this third charge, Rev. Swets returned to his hometown of St. John, IN. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com....

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Search TAG: Nearer to God daily devotional

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September 25 - God’s dwelling place

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September 24 - A solid foundation

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September 23 - Citizenship

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September 22 - Access to the Father

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September 21 - Preaching peace

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September 20 - One new man

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September 19 - Our peace

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September 18 - Brought near

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September 17 - For a purpose

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September 16 - All of grace

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September 15 - Resurrection

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September 14 - But God…

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September 13 - Our natural condition (II)

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September 12 - Our natural condition (I)

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September 11 - Head of the church

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September 10 - Christ’s exaltation

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September 9 - Praying for the saints

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September 8 - Sealed by the Holy Spirit

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September 7 - The word of truth

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September 6 - Inheritance obtained

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September 5 - All things in him

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September 4 - Adopted as sons

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September 3 - Chosen unto godliness

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September 2 - Chosen in him

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September 1 - Introduction to Ephesians