February 28, 2026

A NEW ADDRESS

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“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. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.”

Ephesians 2:19-22 NLT

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TODAY’S THOUGHT

In this passage, Paul describes a massive status upgrade. He moves us from being "outsiders" looking in, to "insiders" who own the keys to the house. He uses three powerful metaphors to show us who we really are.

1. The Passport of Heaven

Cindy and I have had the privilege of traveling all over the world. When we are abroad, our most prized possession is our passport. It is the only thing that proves we are citizens of the United States and entitles us to the protection and privileges of our home country.

As a believer, your spiritual "passport" is stamped with the blood of Jesus. You are no longer a "stranger" or a "foreigner" on this earth. You are a citizen of Heaven. This means you have a right to call on the resources of your Home Country, including the assistance of angels and the authority of the King—whenever you face the "ruler of this world."

2. The Family Bond

Paul says we are "members of God’s family." We have been adopted, and that adoption is permanent.

We have two sons, two daughters-in-law, and four of the greatest grandchildren in the world. They aren’t perfect (they have us as parents and grandparents, after all!), but there is absolutely nothing they could ever do to make us disown them. Our love isn't based on their performance; it’s based on their position as part of our family.

In the same way, your relationship with God isn't held together by your "good behavior." It was purchased by Christ and is sustained by Grace. You don't "act" your way into the family, and you can't "fail" your way out of it.

3. The Architecture of Living

Finally, Paul says we are being "carefully joined together" into a Holy Temple.

While the Holy Spirit lives in you individually, there is a unique, "high voltage" presence of God that only manifests when we join together with other believers. I believe the Holy Spirit takes special delight when people from different backgrounds, races, and ideologies mesh.

When we gather, we aren't just a group of people in a room; we are a Dwelling Place for God.

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TODAY’S PRAYER

Holy Spirit, help me to internalize my true identity today. Free me from the "foreigner" mindset that feels like an outsider or an inadequacy. Remind me that I am a citizen with rights, a child with a Father, and a vital stone in Your holy temple. Amen.

“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”