Scott Swan

Our next WTHR-TV “Christian Newsmakers” conversation is with retired meteorologist Randy Ollis.

We talk about Child Evangelism Fellowship of Indiana - Central Indiana Chapter. Randy became a Christian because of this organization.

Watch our interview below.

https://www.cefonline.com/

Today I’m continuing a series of daily devotions based on the book of Ephesians. Let’s look at Paul’s writing in Chapter 2.

“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 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.”
‭‭(Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

My Life Application Bible provides this commentary. “Christ has destroyed the barriers people build between themselves. Because these walls have been removed, we can have real unity with people who are not like us. This is true reconciliation. Because of Christ’s death, we are all one; our hostility against each other has been put to death; we can have all have access to the Father by the Holy Spirit; we are no longer foreigners or aliens to God; and we are all being built into a holy temple with Christ as our chief cornerstone.”

Paul continues writing.

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”
‭‭(Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭19‬-‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

My Bible notes provide these comments. “There are many barriers that can divide us from other Christians: age, appearance, intelligence, political persuasion, economic status, race, theological perspective. One of the best ways to stifle Christ’s love is to be friendly with only those people that we like. Fortunately, Christ has knocked down the barriers and has unified all believers in one family. His cross should be the focus of our unity. The Holy Spirit helps us look beyond the barriers to the unity we are called to enjoy.”

Friend, God is our peace. Jesus is our chief cornerstone. The Holy Spirit lives in those of us who proclaim Jesus as Lord. Let’s unify as Christ-followers and point to the hope of the world.

Jesus.

I’ve recently started a series of daily devotions based on the book of Ephesians. Chapter 2 is filled with amazing promises.

“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”
‭‭(Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

My Life Application Bible provides this commentary. “Because of Christ’s resurrection, we know that our bodies will also be raised from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:2-23) and that we have been given the power to live as Christians now. These ideas are combined in Paul’s image of sitting with Christ in the heavenly realms. Our eternal life with Christ is certain because we are united in his powerful victory.”

Paul then writes this well-known verse.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
‭‭(Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

It is God’s grace.
It is faith in Jesus.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
(‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Friend, God created you. He loves you. When we come into a relationship with Jesus, we have victory because of what our Savior did on the cross. Let’s point people to Jesus - the hope of the world!

Welcome back to a series of daily devotions based on the book of Ephesians. In Chapter 2 Paul writes about being alive in Christ.

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. 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 ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

My Life Application Bible provides this commentary. “The ruler of the kingdom of the air was understood by Paul’s readers to mean Satan. The fact that all people, without exception, commit sin proves that without Christ we have a sinful nature. The penalty of sin and its power over us were miraculously destroyed by Christ on the cross. Through faith in Christ we stand acquitted, or not guilty, before God.”

Friend, when we put our faith in Jesus we are forgiven, freed from our past and have a future in heaven. We are saved by grace. For those of us who’ve accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord, we are alive in Christ because of what He did for us on the cross!

That is the hope you need today!

Joel Kirsh and his son Trevor both get a “hole in one” on different holes during the same round of golf. It happened June 7 at Bridgewater in Carmel.

Thanks to April Yvette for inviting me on her “The Surrendered Way” podcast to talk about God taking away 10 years of panic attacks, healing me from a near fatal bleeding incident and my book - “The Hope You Need Today.”

I’ll let you know when the podcast airs. In the meantime, her previous episodes can be found in this link.

https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2F%40AprilYvette&data=05%7C02%7CScott.Swan%40wthr.com%7C846918ae31a34cf8646c08dec886e5ad%7Cccd8a79b7268413b878971f8b6f4c0df%7C1%7C0%7C639168678923109240%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=du8geDRbLMhQ%2BBJKZOa9AckRB%2BPP57yTT901Uc9moGM%3D&reserved=0

I’ve been reading the book of Ephesians this week and writing a series of daily devotions. In chapter 1 Paul explains how he’s praying for the Ephesians.

“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.”
(‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

My Life Application Bible provides this commentary. “Paul prayed that the Ephesians would know Christ better. Christ is our model, and the more we know of him, the more we will be like him. Personal knowledge of Christ will change your life.”

The Bible notes also provide this commentary about the hope Paul mentions. “The hope we have is not a vague feeling that the future will be positive, but it is complete assurance of certain victory through God. The complete certainty comes to us through the Holy Spirit who is working in us.”

Paul writes about God’s “incomparably great power for us who believe.”

“That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 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.”
(‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Friend, it’s awesome to read the book of Ephesians and see the words of Paul honor and lift the name of Jesus!

The Son of God is the hope you need today!

We’re working on a special program called “Red, White and You - America 250.”

This 30-minute show is filled with inspiring stories of Hoosiers doing extraordinary things.

It airs at 10:30pm, June 22 on WTHR-TV.

This week I began a series of daily devotions as I study Ephesians.

“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.”
‭‭(Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

My Life Application Bible provides this commentary. “God’s purpose is to offer salvation to the world, just as he planned to do long ago. God is sovereign; he is in charge. When your life seems chaotic, rest in this truth: Jesus is Lord, and God is in control. God’s purpose to save you cannot be thwarted, no matter what evil Satan may bring.”

Paul continues writing.

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”
(‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

My Bible notes provide this insight. “The Holy Spirit is God’s seal that we belong to him and his deposit guaranteeing that he will do what he has promised. The Holy Spirit is like a down payment, a deposit, a validating signature on the contract. The presence of the Holy Spirit in us demonstrates the genuineness of our faith, proves that we are God’s children, and secures eternal life for us. His power works in us to transform us now, and what we experience now is a taste of the total change we will experience in eternity.”

Friend, when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit lives within us.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.”
(‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Jesus said the Holy Spirit would teach us.

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
(‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Friend, let’s ask the Holy Spirit to provide us wisdom as we walk out our faith. I’m excited to see how the Holy Spirit is going to lead us as we point to Jesus.

That is the hope you need today!