Brought Near: A 7-Day Devotional
From Outsiders to God’s Family
Through Christ, we are brought near to God, united with His people, and built together into a dwelling place for His Spirit. This seven-day devotional follows the message of Pastors Scotts Sermon, moving from gratitude for God’s grace to the invitation to surrender every part of life to Him.
The central theme is surrender: not trying to earn God’s love, but responding to the love He has already shown us through Jesus.
Each day includes a Scripture reading, a devotional reflection, questions to consider, a practical response, and a prayer. Read the passage in your preferred Bible translation before beginning.
Day 1: Remember Where You Came From
Scripture Reading
Ephesians 2:1–12
Devotional
Paul asks his readers to remember who they were before Christ. They had been spiritually dead, separated from God, and without the hope found in His promises. Remembering that condition was not meant to keep them trapped in shame. It was meant to help them recognize the greatness of God’s mercy.
We can become so accustomed to hearing about grace that we forget how much we need it. We begin to measure ourselves against others, congratulate ourselves for our progress, or assume that belonging to God makes us better than someone else.
But remembering where we came from leaves little room for pride. We did not rescue ourselves. God reached toward us in mercy.
Your story may include a dramatic turning point or a quieter journey of faith. Either way, the foundation is the same: you need Christ. Let that truth lead you to gratitude rather than shame, and compassion rather than superiority.
Reflect
- How has God’s mercy changed the way you understand your life?
- Does remembering your need for grace make you more patient with others?
Put It into Practice
Write down three ways God has shown you mercy. Thank Him specifically for each one.
Prayer
Father, keep me from forgetting Your mercy. Help me remember my need for You without becoming trapped in shame. Replace pride with gratitude, and teach me to show others the grace You have shown me. Amen.
Day 2: Brought Near Through Christ
Scripture Reading
Ephesians 2:13; Colossians 1:21–22
Devotional
The turning point in this message is simple: those who were once far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
Notice who makes that possible. We are not brought near because we have become impressive, religious enough, or capable of repairing every mistake. Jesus makes reconciliation possible through His death.
That changes how we approach God. We do not have to pretend that our struggles are absent or our lives are already polished. We come honestly, trusting Christ rather than our own worthiness.
Being brought near also means that faith is more than learning information about God. It is entering a relationship with Him. The invitation is not merely to admire Jesus from a distance, but to trust Him and live in fellowship with the Father.
Today, remember that your past is not greater than Christ’s mercy. Bring your guilt, fears, and unanswered questions to Him.
Reflect
- What makes you hesitate to approach God honestly?
- Are you relying on Christ, or trying to prove that you deserve to be welcomed?
Put It into Practice
Spend five quiet minutes in prayer. Name something you have been reluctant to bring before God.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for bringing me near through Your sacrifice. Help me stop hiding behind excuses or appearances. Teach me to approach the Father with honesty, gratitude, and trust in what You have done. Amen.
Day 3: Christ Is Our Peace
Scripture Reading
Ephesians 2:14–17
Devotional
Paul does not simply say that Jesus gives peace. He says that Christ Himself is our peace.
In this passage, that peace reaches in two directions: Christ reconciles people to God, and He brings Jews and Gentiles together as one people. The cross confronts both our separation from God and the hostility that divides us from one another.
This challenges us to examine the walls we continue to maintain. We may dismiss people because of their background, resent another congregation, or quietly treat our preferences as proof of spiritual superiority.
Christian unity does not mean every disagreement disappears. It means that those who belong to Christ share a deeper foundation than their differences. We are not competitors trying to protect our own importance. We are people who depend on the same Savior.
Peace also does not require pretending harm never happened. But it does call us away from contempt, revenge, and the desire to keep hostility alive.
Reflect
- Where have resentment or pride created a wall in your relationships?
- How could Christ’s peace change the way you speak about other believers?
Put It into Practice
Pray for someone you find difficult to love. Where appropriate and safe, take one step toward peace—a sincere apology, a respectful conversation, or a refusal to repeat gossip.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are our peace. Expose the hostility I have allowed to remain in my heart. Help me pursue reconciliation with humility and wisdom, remembering that others need Your mercy just as I do. Amen.
Day 4: You Belong to God’s Family
Scripture Reading
Ephesians 2:18–19
Devotional
Paul moves from the language of distance to the language of belonging. Those who were once strangers are now fellow citizens and members of God’s household.
That is more than permission to stand nearby. It is an invitation into a family.
Through Christ, believers have access to the Father by the same Spirit. No one enters through a superior background or a more impressive spiritual history. Our belonging rests on what Christ has done.
This gives comfort to the person who feels overlooked, inadequate, or unsure of their place. It also gives responsibility to the person who already feels at home. If the church is God’s household, we should make room for one another.
Belonging is not only something we receive; it shapes how we treat people. We learn names, notice needs, share burdens, and welcome those who might otherwise remain on the edges.
Reflect
- Do you live as though you are welcomed into God’s household?
- Who around you needs to experience the kindness of a spiritual family?
Put It into Practice
Contact someone in your church community. Offer encouragement, ask how you can pray, or intentionally welcome someone you do not know well.
Prayer
Father, thank You for welcoming me into Your family. Help me receive that belonging with confidence and extend it with generosity. Open my eyes to people who need friendship, encouragement, and care. Amen.
Day 5: Built Together, Not Alone
Scripture Reading
Ephesians 2:20–22; 1 Peter 2:4–5
Devotional
Paul describes believers as a building joined together in Christ. Peter describes them as living stones being built into a spiritual house. Both pictures remind us that Christian life is not meant to be lived in isolation.
Jesus is the cornerstone—the One who gives the whole building its foundation and alignment. We do not ask Him to fit into whatever life we have already designed. We allow Him to shape how we live.
And He shapes us together.
Other believers encourage us, pray with us, challenge us, and help us grow. Sometimes that process is comforting. Sometimes it exposes impatience, pride, or our reluctance to receive correction. Yet God can use life in community to form us into people who better reflect Christ.
You do not have to be the whole building. You do not have to possess every gift or carry every burden. Your calling is to remain connected to Christ and faithfully contribute what He has entrusted to you.
Reflect
- Have you been trying to follow Christ without meaningful connection to other believers?
- What gift, time, or encouragement could you contribute to your church family?
Put It into Practice
Take one concrete step toward community: join a study, pray with another believer, serve alongside someone, or ask a trusted Christian for support.
Prayer
Lord, keep my life aligned with Jesus, my cornerstone. Help me resist isolation and receive the people You use to encourage my growth. Show me how to serve faithfully as part of Your spiritual house. Amen.
Day 6: Let Your Life Show His Goodness
Scripture Reading
1 Peter 2:1–3, 9–12
Devotional
Peter connects identity with conduct. Because believers belong to God, they are called to put away deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and unkind speech. They are also called to hunger for spiritual nourishment and live honorably among their neighbors.
A changed life is not a performance designed to make us look superior. It is a response to God’s goodness.
That difference becomes visible in ordinary moments: telling the truth when dishonesty would be easier, refusing cruel speech, treating people fairly, and showing kindness when it is inconvenient.
Spiritual growth also requires nourishment. If we continually feed resentment, envy, or temptation, we should not be surprised when those things influence our behavior. Peter invites us to hunger instead for what helps us grow in our relationship with the Lord.
We do not control how others respond. But we can seek to live in a way that gives them a clearer picture of God’s goodness.
Reflect
- What are you feeding your heart through your habits, conversations, and entertainment?
- What might your neighbors or coworkers learn about your faith from your conduct?
Put It into Practice
Identify one habit that feeds an unhealthy attitude. Replace it today with Scripture, prayer, encouragement, or a deliberate act of kindness.
Prayer
Father, give me a hunger for what strengthens my faith. Remove deceit, jealousy, and unkindness from my conduct. Help my words and actions point toward Your goodness rather than toward my own importance. Amen.
Day 7: Have You Given Everything to Christ?
Scripture Reading
Ephesians 2:8–10; 1 Peter 2:11–12
Devotional
The sermon closes with a searching question: Have you given everything to Christ, or are you still holding something back?
It is possible to admire Jesus while resisting His direction. We may appreciate His words, enjoy worship, and agree with biblical teaching—yet continue negotiating when obedience becomes personal.
Surrender begins where those negotiations end.
Perhaps you are defending resentment, hiding a habit, avoiding an apology, or refusing a change you know you need to make. Bring that resistance honestly before God.
Remember the order in Ephesians: salvation is God’s gift of grace, and a life of good works follows. Obedience does not purchase His love. It is the response of a person learning to trust Him.
Change may involve struggle, repeated repentance, and help from other believers. Surrender does not mean you will never stumble. It means you stop treating sin as something you intend to protect.
You do not have to solve every struggle today. But you can stop withholding it from Christ and take the next faithful step.
Reflect
- Where have you been saying, “I hear You, Lord, but…”?
- What would a concrete act of surrender look like today?
Put It into Practice
Complete this sentence in writing:
“Lord, I have been holding on to . Today, I will respond by .”
Choose a specific step. If the struggle is persistent, ask a trusted pastor or mature believer to pray with you and support you.
Prayer
Jesus, I do not want merely to admire You; I want to follow You. I bring You the parts of my life I have resisted surrendering. Forgive me, strengthen me, and help me obey. Thank You that Your grace brings me near and Your Spirit helps me grow. Amen.
