The Brook Welcome to The Brook, an Evangelical church in Miami dedicated to spreading the love and teachings of Jesus Christ. Join us for Sunday services, Bible studies, and community outreach events. Our church is open to all who seek a deeper understanding of God's word and a supportive, welcoming community. Come grow with us at The Brook https://thebrookmiami.org Wed, 29 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Wed, 29 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0000 hourly 1 3600 SnapPages.com Taxing, Tipping, or Tithing – Day 7: Know, Give, Save, Spend — Honor God with It All https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/10/10/taxing-tipping-or-tithing-day-7-know-give-save-spend-honor-god-with-it-all Sat, 10 Oct 2026 06:19:36 +0000 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/10/10/taxing-tipping-or-tithing-day-7-know-give-save-spend-honor-god-with-it-all
We have arrived at Day 7 — and we end where the sermon ended: not with a concept, but with a commitment. A framework. A way of actually living this out, starting today.  
 
Scripture of the Day

"Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine."

Proverbs 3:9–10 (NIV)

   

Notice: firstfruits. Not the leftovers. Not the surplus. The first. Before you see how the month shakes out, before you calculate what is comfortable — you honor God first. That is the posture Proverbs is describing. And it leads not to scarcity, but to overflow.  
The sermon offered a four-part framework for holistic financial faithfulness — not just how we give, but how we steward everything:  
 
  1. KNOW — Be aware of your financial reality (Proverbs 27:23). Don't bury your head in the sand. Know your income. Know your debts. Know your numbers. Faithful stewardship begins with honest self-awareness. You cannot manage what you refuse to see.   
  2. GIVE — Honor God first with the firstfruits of all you have. Not the leftovers, not the remainder. The first tenth, off the top, before anything else. This is where faith gets practical and the tithe becomes a lifestyle.   
  3. SAVE — Build wisely for the future (Proverbs 27:24–27). Resources do not last forever. Seasons change. Wise stewardship means planning ahead, margin-building, and resisting the pressure to spend everything you earn.   
  4. SPEND — Pay what you owe. Live within your means. Let no debt remain outstanding except the debt of love (Romans 13:7–8). Spend on what God has called you to — and release what He has not.  

This is not just a financial strategy. It is holistic worship. Every category — knowing, giving, saving, spending — is an act of surrender. The goal is not to give 10% and keep the rest for yourself. The goal is to steward 100% as someone who belongs entirely to God.  
 

The 90-Day Challenge

Commit to tithing your time, talent, and treasure to God for the next 90 days — and watch what He does in your heart, your finances, and your faith.   


Reflection Question

Looking at these four categories — Know, Give, Save, Spend — which area needs the most honest attention in your life right now? What is one concrete, specific step you can take this week to begin honoring God in that area?   


Prayer

Father, I want to honor You with all that I have — not just 10% but 100%. I confess that I have kept too much for myself and trusted You with too little. Teach me to know well, give generously, save wisely, and spend faithfully. May my entire financial life — every number on every page — be an act of worship to You. Here is my yes. Amen.   


Thank you for walking through this week with us. We believe that when we honor God with what is in our hands, He does something extraordinary in our hearts. We will see you Sunday.  

In His grace,
The Brook Church Miami
]]> https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/10/10/taxing-tipping-or-tithing-day-7-know-give-save-spend-honor-god-with-it-all#comments 0 Taxing, Tipping, or Tithing – Day 6: The Tithe Is the Floor, Not the Ceiling https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/10/08/taxing-tipping-or-tithing-day-6-the-tithe-is-the-floor-not-the-ceiling Thu, 08 Oct 2026 20:40:05 +0000 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/10/08/taxing-tipping-or-tithing-day-6-the-tithe-is-the-floor-not-the-ceiling
We have spent the week establishing why we tithe. Today we need to talk about where tithing takes us — because where the gospel leads, 10% is just the starting line.  

Scripture of the Day

"Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything — all she had to live on."

Mark 12:43–44 (NIV)

   

The widow in Mark 12 did not give a tithe. She gave everything. Jesus did not correct her. He did not say, "Ma'am, you've exceeded the required percentage." He celebrated her. Because she was not giving from a formula — she was giving from a transformed heart. She understood something that most of us spend a lifetime learning: when you truly trust God, the hand opens naturally and fully.  

Abram is our model for the pre-law principle of tithing — the faith response of a tenth. But Jesus is the standard for our lives. And Jesus gave everything — His very life, poured out completely. Romans 12:1 calls us to offer our entire bodies as living sacrifices. The trajectory of the gospel is not toward a comfortable, carefully calculated percentage. It is toward radical, open-handed, extravagant generosity.  

The tithe is a starting place. A commitment. A covenant. It is the discipline that trains the heart toward greater generosity. But the ceiling is not 10%. The ceiling is the cross — where Someone gave 100% so that we could be free to give with abandon. Tithing is where we begin. Worship is where we end. And the journey from one to the other is the most exciting financial journey of your life.  


Reflection Question

If the tithe is the floor, what is God calling you toward beyond it? Is there a specific area of your time, talent, or treasure where He is gently asking for more than the minimum right now?   


Prayer

Lord, thank You for the clear and merciful starting point of the tithe. It is a gift — a fence that shows me where to begin. But don't let me be satisfied with the minimum. Give me the heart of the widow — willing to give freely, holding nothing back, trusting You with everything I have and everything I am. Amen.   


In His grace,
The Brook Church Miami
]]> https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/10/08/taxing-tipping-or-tithing-day-6-the-tithe-is-the-floor-not-the-ceiling#comments 0 Taxing, Tipping, or Tithing – Day 5: Tithing Keeps You Tethered to Reality https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/10/07/taxing-tipping-or-tithing-day-5-tithing-keeps-you-tethered-to-reality Wed, 07 Oct 2026 19:31:37 +0000 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/10/07/taxing-tipping-or-tithing-day-5-tithing-keeps-you-tethered-to-reality
We live in a culture that is constantly selling us a story: that we are the main character, the self-made architect of our own destiny. Tithing, quietly and powerfully, tells a different story.


Scripture of the Day

"A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord."

Leviticus 27:30 (NIV)

   


Notice the language: "belongs to the Lord." Not "should be given to the Lord," not "is recommended for the Lord." Belongs. The tithe is not a gift from us to God. It is a recognition that it was already His. We are simply returning what was never ours to keep.  
Tithing is one of the most powerful tethers God has given us for staying grounded in reality — because it reminds us of four truths that the world works very hard to make us forget:  

  1. I am not all-powerful. My income did not come solely from my effort. My health, my mind, my opportunities — these are gifts, not achievements.   
  2. I am not my own. I belong to Someone. I am a steward, not an owner.   
  3. Not all limitations are evil. Living within a tithe is not deprivation — it is wisdom and trust.
  4. I am deeply loved. The One who asks for the tithe is the same One who gave everything for me. This is not exploitation. It is invitation.  


In a world obsessed with self-sufficiency and financial independence, writing that check — or clicking that button — is a radical, countercultural act of humility. It declares every single time: God, You are the source. I am the steward. And I trust You with what You've entrusted to me.  


Reflection Question

Which of the four realities — not all-powerful, not my own, limitations are not evil, deeply loved — do you most need to be reminded of today? How does the regular practice of tithing speak to that specific area of your heart?   


Prayer

Heavenly Father, I need Your reminders. My culture is loud, and it tells me to trust in myself, to accumulate, to hold on tight. Let my giving be a weekly act of surrender — a quiet but powerful acknowledgment that everything I have comes from You and belongs to You. Tether me to that truth. Amen.   


In His grace,
The Brook Church Miami
]]> https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/10/07/taxing-tipping-or-tithing-day-5-tithing-keeps-you-tethered-to-reality#comments 0 Taxing, Tipping, or Tithing - Day 4: Meet the Greater Melchizedek https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/10/07/taxing-tipping-or-tithing-day-4-meet-the-greater-melchizedek Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:23:48 +0000 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/10/07/taxing-tipping-or-tithing-day-4-meet-the-greater-melchizedek
Have you ever wondered who Melchizedek really was - and why the Bible keeps bringing him up?

Scripture of the Day:
"Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." - Hebrews 7:24-25

Melchizedek is one of the most mysterious figures in the Bible. He appears without introduction - no genealogy, no backstory. He is simply described as the king of Salem and priest of God Most High, and he brings bread and wine to Abram after a great victory. Abram gives him a tenth of everything.

The Bible later reveals that Melchizedek was pointing forward to someone greater. His name means king of righteousness, and Salem means peace - so he is the king of righteousness and king of peace. He was a priest forever, not by heredity but by divine appointment. Sound familiar? That is Jesus.

Jesus is the true King of Righteousness. He is our eternal High Priest. At the Last Supper, he gave his body as bread and his blood as wine. And right now, he lives to intercede for you. When we tithe, we are doing what Abram did - responding to the ministry of our great High Priest with an act of faith and worship.

Abram's tithe to Melchizedek was a shadow. Our giving is a response to the reality - to Jesus, who gave not a tenth, but everything.

Reflection Question:
How does seeing Jesus as the fulfillment of Melchizedek change the way you understand your giving? When you tithe, who are you really responding to?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You are the King of Righteousness and my eternal High Priest. Every act of giving is ultimately a response to what You have done for me. Thank You for interceding for me always. Amen.

In His grace,
The Brook Church Miami
]]> https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/10/07/taxing-tipping-or-tithing-day-4-meet-the-greater-melchizedek#comments 0 Taxing, Tipping, or Tithing - Day 3: The Greatest Gain Is More God https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/10/05/taxing-tipping-or-tithing-day-3-the-greatest-gain-is-more-god Mon, 05 Oct 2026 23:42:28 +0000 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/10/05/taxing-tipping-or-tithing-day-3-the-greatest-gain-is-more-god
Right after Abram tithed and refused to take wealth from the king of Sodom, God spoke four words that changed everything: I am your reward.

Scripture of the Day:
"Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward." - Genesis 15:1

We live in a culture that treats giving as an investment. You give, then you wait for the return. And while God does bless generosity, the primary purpose of tithing is not to unlock more stuff. It is to unlock more of God.

Notice what happened in Genesis 15. Abram had just given away a tenth of everything. He had also refused to keep any of the war spoils the king of Sodom offered him. From a worldly perspective, he walked away twice with nothing. And yet God appears to him and says: I am your reward.

Not: I will give you a reward. Not: your reward is coming. But: I AM your reward. God himself - his presence, his closeness, his covenant - is what Abram gains through faithful giving. That is the greatest return on any investment ever made.

If you tithe primarily to get something back, you will always feel like it is not working. But if you tithe to draw near to God, to declare his lordship, to express your trust - you will find that the reward is richer than anything money could buy.

Reflection Question:
Be honest: do you tithe primarily because of what you expect to receive in return? What does it mean to make God himself your reward?

Prayer:
God Most High, forgive me when I treat You like a vending machine. You are not a means to an end - You ARE the end. Teach me to treasure You more than anything You could ever give me. Amen.

In His grace,
The Brook Church Miami
]]> https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/10/05/taxing-tipping-or-tithing-day-3-the-greatest-gain-is-more-god#comments 0 Taxing, Tipping, or Tithing - Day 2: Tithing Predates the Law https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/10/05/taxing-tipping-or-tithing-day-2-tithing-predates-the-law Mon, 05 Oct 2026 23:41:55 +0000 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/10/05/taxing-tipping-or-tithing-day-2-tithing-predates-the-law
Here is a question that might surprise you: Did you know Abram tithed before there was ever a law requiring it?

Scripture of the Day:
"Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High... Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything." - Genesis 14:18-20

One of the most common reasons people sidestep tithing is this: That is an Old Testament command. We are New Testament people now. And on the surface, it sounds reasonable. But there is a problem - Abram tithed to Melchizedek hundreds of years before Moses ever wrote a single word of the Law.

This changes everything. Abram's tithe was not a legal obligation. There was no Mosaic law yet, no temple system, no Levitical priesthood. His giving was a pure, spontaneous, faith-filled response to God's deliverance. He had just returned from battle, having rescued Lot and defeated four kings, and his first instinct was to honor God with a tenth of everything.

That is not law - that is love. That is not duty - that is devotion. Tithing, at its root, is a faith principle, not a legal requirement. It predates the Law because it predates the need for the Law. It belongs to the era of grace and trust, not rules and obligation.

So the next time the thought arises - I do not have to tithe, that is Old Testament - remember: Abram did not have to either. He just trusted.

Reflection Question:
Have you ever used that reasoning as a reason to avoid tithing? How does knowing that Abram tithed before the Law change your perspective?

Prayer:
Father, I confess that I sometimes look for reasons to hold back. Help me to follow Abram's example of generous, faith-filled giving - not because the Law demands it, but because You deserve it. Amen.

In His grace,
The Brook Church Miami
]]> https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/10/05/taxing-tipping-or-tithing-day-2-tithing-predates-the-law#comments 0 Taxing, Tipping, or Tithing – Day 1: Are You Taxed, Tipping, or Tithing? https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/10/04/taxing-tipping-or-tithing-day-1-are-you-taxed-tipping-or-tithing Sun, 04 Oct 2026 10:03:50 +0000 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/10/04/taxing-tipping-or-tithing-day-1-are-you-taxed-tipping-or-tithing
Have you ever stopped to ask yourself: why do I give?

Scripture of the Day:
"Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything." — Genesis 14:20

Most of us approach giving with one of three mindsets. The first is Taxed — giving only because we feel we have to, like a legal obligation we resent but can't escape. The second is Tipping — giving a small, optional, afterthought amount, the way you'd leave a few dollars on a restaurant table when the service was just okay. The third is Tithing — giving a full tenth as an act of worship, faith, and trust, declaring that God is Lord of all we have.

Abram didn't tithe to Melchizedek because a law required it. There was no law yet. He gave because something in him recognized that the victory he had just experienced — rescuing Lot, defeating four kings — was not his own doing. It was God's. And his giving was his way of saying so out loud.

The question isn't whether you give. The question is what your giving says about what you believe. A tax is paid grudgingly. A tip is left casually. A tithe is offered intentionally — as an act of worship to a God who is worthy of everything.

This week, as we walk through this 7-day devotional together, let's allow God to move us from obligation to offering, from tips to trust.

Reflection Question:
When you give, which mindset do you bring — tax, tip, or tithe? What would it look like to tithe as an act of worship this week?

Prayer:
Lord, examine my heart when it comes to giving. Help me to move beyond obligation and into offering — trusting that You are faithful and worthy of all I have. Amen.
]]> https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/10/04/taxing-tipping-or-tithing-day-1-are-you-taxed-tipping-or-tithing#comments 0 This One Thing – Day 5 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/09/18/this-one-thing-day-5 Fri, 18 Sep 2026 05:00:00 +0000 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/09/18/this-one-thing-day-5

THIS ONE THING

Type your new text here.

September 14–20, 2026

"Allow God to have more of you so you can experience more of Him."

The rich young ruler in Mark 10 had everything — and still felt the gap. He ran to Jesus. He knelt. He was sincere. And Jesus looked at him with love and named the one thing standing between him and the life he was actually searching for. This week, we sit inside that moment and let Jesus look at us the same way. Not with judgment. With love. Each day we'll unpack a misconception, a challenge, or an invitation — and slowly work toward the question Jesus is asking all of us: What is your one thing? And are you willing to open your hands?

Day 5

Friday, September 18

Freedom From Idolatry Is Difficult. It Is Also Possible.

Mark 10:26–27
"'Who then can be saved?' Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.'"

Reflection
The disciples' question is honest and raw: if even a good, religious, seeking man cannot find his way in — who can? And Jesus does not soften the answer. With man, this is impossible. Money idolatry is insidious and easy — it does not announce itself. It grows quietly in the soil of our ambitions, our fears, and our plans. But then Jesus adds the phrase that changes everything: but not with God. Freedom from idolatry is difficult. It is also entirely possible — not through more discipline or better budgeting, but through the power of God at work in a surrendered life. Jesus calls everyone to radical generosity not because He wants something from us, but because He wants something for us.
Application
You cannot break free from money idolatry on your own — but with God, all things are possible.
Prayer  
Lord, I cannot untangle my heart from its attachments by willpower alone. Do what only You can do. Free me from every form of idolatry. Make me someone who holds everything loosely and follows You with both hands open.
]]> https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/09/18/this-one-thing-day-5#comments 0 This One Thing – Day 4 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/09/17/this-one-thing-day-4 Thu, 17 Sep 2026 09:11:52 +0000 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/09/17/this-one-thing-day-4

THIS ONE THING

Type your new text here.

September 14–20, 2026

"Allow God to have more of you so you can experience more of Him."

The rich young ruler in Mark 10 had everything — and still felt the gap. He ran to Jesus. He knelt. He was sincere. And Jesus looked at him with love and named the one thing standing between him and the life he was actually searching for. This week, we sit inside that moment and let Jesus look at us the same way. Not with judgment. With love. Each day we'll unpack a misconception, a challenge, or an invitation — and slowly work toward the question Jesus is asking all of us: What is your one thing? And are you willing to open your hands?

Day 4

Thursday, September 17

The One Thing Jesus Sees That You Might Be Missing

Mark 10:21
"Jesus looked at him and loved him. 'One thing you lack,' he said. 'Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'"

Reflection
Before Jesus said anything challenging, the text says something tender: He looked at him and loved him. The invitation that follows is not a punishment — it is an act of love from a Savior who sees clearly what we often cannot. "One thing you lack." Not ten things. Not a complete overhaul. One thing. And it is not really about the money — it is about whatever sits on the throne of your heart that is not Jesus. For this man, it was wealth. For someone else it might be approval, control, comfort, or status. Jesus, in His love, always moves toward the one thing. He doesn't leave it alone. He doesn't flatter you around it. He names it — because He wants you free.
Application
Jesus names the one thing not to condemn you — but because He loves you too much to leave you in it.
Prayer  
Jesus, look at me and love me the way You loved this man. Show me the one thing — the thing I am holding more tightly than I am holding You. I want to be free. Give me the courage to open my hands.
]]> https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/09/17/this-one-thing-day-4#comments 0 This One Thing – Day 3 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/09/16/this-one-thing-day-3 Wed, 16 Sep 2026 13:40:37 +0000 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/09/16/this-one-thing-day-3

THIS ONE THING

Type your new text here.

September 14–20, 2026

"Allow God to have more of you so you can experience more of Him."

The rich young ruler in Mark 10 had everything — and still felt the gap. He ran to Jesus. He knelt. He was sincere. And Jesus looked at him with love and named the one thing standing between him and the life he was actually searching for. This week, we sit inside that moment and let Jesus look at us the same way. Not with judgment. With love. Each day we'll unpack a misconception, a challenge, or an invitation — and slowly work toward the question Jesus is asking all of us: What is your one thing? And are you willing to open your hands?

Day 3

Wednesday, September 16

God Is Not Anti-Wealth — He's Anti-Idolatry

Ecclesiastes 5:19
"When God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil — this is a gift of God."

Reflection
There is a misconception that wealth is a sign of God's favor — and an equal and opposite misconception that wealth is inherently corrupt. Scripture corrects both. Earthly riches are not proof of spiritual standing, and God is not anti-wealth. When He gives someone wealth and the ability to enjoy it, Ecclesiastes calls that a gift. The issue was never the money. The issue was never even the amount. Jesus said it plainly: it is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom — not because wealth is evil, but because wealth is powerful. It pulls. It competes. It whispers that it can provide what only God provides. The invitation is not to be poor. It is to be free.
Application
God doesn't want you to have less — He wants you to be free from what has you.
Prayer  
God, thank You for every good gift — including material ones. Help me receive what You've given with gratitude, hold it with open hands, and never let it become the thing my heart trusts most. You are the giver. Keep me anchored to You.
]]> https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/09/16/this-one-thing-day-3#comments 0 This One Thing – Day 2 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/09/16/this-one-thing-day-2 Wed, 16 Sep 2026 11:51:53 +0000 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/09/16/this-one-thing-day-2

THIS ONE THING

Type your new text here.

September 14–20, 2026

"Allow God to have more of you so you can experience more of Him."

The rich young ruler in Mark 10 had everything — and still felt the gap. He ran to Jesus. He knelt. He was sincere. And Jesus looked at him with love and named the one thing standing between him and the life he was actually searching for. This week, we sit inside that moment and let Jesus look at us the same way. Not with judgment. With love. Each day we'll unpack a misconception, a challenge, or an invitation — and slowly work toward the question Jesus is asking all of us: What is your one thing? And are you willing to open your hands?

Day 2

Tuesday, September 15

More Money Won't Satisfy What Only God Can Fill

Ecclesiastes 5:10
"Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income."

Reflection
One of the most persistent lies our culture tells is that enough money will finally bring enough peace. But Scripture dismantles that myth with stunning clarity: whoever loves money never has enough. The treadmill never stops. The number that felt like security last year feels insufficient this year. And the rich — Ecclesiastes says — cannot even sleep because of their abundance. The restlessness isn't a sign of not having enough. It is a sign of looking in the wrong place. Money is a powerful tool and a terrible god. It was never designed to carry the weight of your soul's deepest needs. Only God can do that — and He is the only source that never runs dry.
Application
The satisfaction you're chasing through wealth is only found in God — and He offers it freely.
Prayer  
Father, free me from the lie that more will finally be enough. Let my contentment be rooted in You, not in what I have or don't have. Teach me to hold wealth as a tool in Your hands, not a throne for my heart.
]]> https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/09/16/this-one-thing-day-2#comments 0 This One Thing – Day 1 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/09/16/this-one-thing-day-1 Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:08:37 +0000 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/09/16/this-one-thing-day-1

THIS ONE THING

Type your new text here.

September 14–20, 2026

"Allow God to have more of you so you can experience more of Him."

The rich young ruler in Mark 10 had everything — and still felt the gap. He ran to Jesus. He knelt. He was sincere. And Jesus looked at him with love and named the one thing standing between him and the life he was actually searching for. This week, we sit inside that moment and let Jesus look at us the same way. Not with judgment. With love. Each day we'll unpack a misconception, a challenge, or an invitation — and slowly work toward the question Jesus is asking all of us: What is your one thing? And are you willing to open your hands?

Day 1

Monday, September 14

What Jesus Thinks About Your Money Might Surprise You

Mark 10:17
"As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. 'Good teacher,' he asked, 'what must I do to inherit eternal life?'"

Reflection
The man in Mark 10 was not a villain. He ran to Jesus. He knelt. He was earnest, religious, and by every outward measure — admirable. He had kept the commandments since boyhood. And yet something was still missing. Jesus does not answer his question the way anyone expected. He challenges not the amount of the man's wealth, but the way the man relates to it. This is where Jesus always surprises us: He is not primarily interested in your financial portfolio. He is interested in your heart. The question He asks is never "how much do you have?" It is always "what has you?"
Application
Jesus isn't challenging the amount of your wealth — He's challenging what your wealth has of you.
Prayer  
Lord, search my heart today. Show me where I have allowed money, comfort, or security to occupy the place that only You should hold. I want to relate to what I have the way You intend — with open hands and a surrendered heart.
]]> https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/09/16/this-one-thing-day-1#comments 0 Still A People: Who Are You – Day 7 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/09/still-a-people-who-are-you-day-7 Sun, 09 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/09/still-a-people-who-are-you-day-7

STILL A PEOPLE

WHO ARE YOU?

August 3 – August 9, 2026
Paul writes Ephesians 3:14–21 from a prison cell — and yet he kneels. Not in defeat, but in declaration. This week we slow down inside one of the most powerful prayers in Scripture and let it answer one of the most important questions we can ask: Who are you? You are a child with access. You are someone being strengthened by the Spirit. You are rooted in love too vast to fully measure. You are being filled with all the fullness of God. Each day this week, we open one layer of Paul's prayer and let it shape how we live, love, and follow Jesus.

Day 7

Sunday, August 9

You Were Made to Be Filled With God

Ephesians 3:19–21
"…that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Reflection
Paul ends his prayer not with a list of things to do — but with a declaration of what God can do. He is able to do far more abundantly than all you ask or think. Not slightly more. Not a little beyond. Far more abundantly. And the power He uses is not external — it is the very power already at work within you. The Spirit who raised Christ from the dead is the same Spirit living in you. Paul's closing call to us is clear: pray to know God's love for the purpose of His glory, pray that the Spirit's strength empowers you to love one another, and choose to saturate yourself in the character of God through His Word. Who are you? You are someone being filled with all the fullness of God — and that fullness is for His glory and your joy.
Application
You are not meant to live at a fraction of what God has already placed inside you.
Prayer  
Lord, fill me to overf lowing. Let the fullness of Your Spirit pour into every relationship, every room, every responsibility. And when I am tempted to think small, remind me that You are able to do far more abundantly than all I can ask or imagine. To You be the glory — in the church, in my life, forever and ever. Amen.
]]> https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/09/still-a-people-who-are-you-day-7#comments 0 Still A People: Who Are You – Day 6 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/08/still-a-people-who-are-you-day-6 Sat, 08 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/08/still-a-people-who-are-you-day-6

STILL A PEOPLE

WHO ARE YOU?

August 3 – August 9, 2026
Paul writes Ephesians 3:14–21 from a prison cell — and yet he kneels. Not in defeat, but in declaration. This week we slow down inside one of the most powerful prayers in Scripture and let it answer one of the most important questions we can ask: Who are you? You are a child with access. You are someone being strengthened by the Spirit. You are rooted in love too vast to fully measure. You are being filled with all the fullness of God. Each day this week, we open one layer of Paul's prayer and let it shape how we live, love, and follow Jesus.

Day 6

Saturday, August 8

The Love of Christ Is Bigger Than You've Imagined

Exodus 34:6
"The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness…"

Reflection
The sermon's central question is deeply personal: who are you? And one of the most foundational answers Scripture gives is this — you are someone who knows God. Not just someone who knows about Him, but someone in living relationship with Him. J.I. Packer wrote: "What makes life worthwhile is having a big enough objective… for what higher, more exalted, and more compelling goal can there be than to know God?" The character of God revealed in Exodus — merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love — is not a distant description. It is the personality of the Father you have direct access to. Knowing Him changes how you love others, because you cannot genuinely receive His love and withhold it from the people around you.
Application
The more you know God's character, the more naturally His character flows through you.
Prayer  
Lord, I want to know You — not just know about You. Reveal Yourself to me through Your Word today. Let the knowledge of Your character shape how I treat the people I encounter. Make me a carrier of the love You have so freely given me.
]]> https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/08/still-a-people-who-are-you-day-6#comments 0 Still A People: Who Are You – Day 5 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/07/still-a-people-who-are-you-day-5 Fri, 07 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/07/still-a-people-who-are-you-day-5

STILL A PEOPLE

WHO ARE YOU?

August 3 – August 9, 2026
Paul writes Ephesians 3:14–21 from a prison cell — and yet he kneels. Not in defeat, but in declaration. This week we slow down inside one of the most powerful prayers in Scripture and let it answer one of the most important questions we can ask: Who are you? You are a child with access. You are someone being strengthened by the Spirit. You are rooted in love too vast to fully measure. You are being filled with all the fullness of God. Each day this week, we open one layer of Paul's prayer and let it shape how we live, love, and follow Jesus.

Day 5

Friday, August 7

The Love of Christ Is Bigger Than You've Imagined

Ephesians 3:18–19
"…may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge."

Reflection
Paul prays that you would have strength to comprehend something that cannot be fully comprehended. That is not a contradiction — it is an invitation. The love of Christ is so vast it has dimensions. Wide enough to include you no matter where you've been. Long enough to pursue you no matter how far you've run. High enough to lift you out of anything. Deep enough to reach you at your lowest. And yet Paul says it surpasses knowledge — meaning you will spend a lifetime exploring it and never exhaust it. Notice he says this comprehension happens with all the saints. You were never meant to discover the love of God alone. It takes community to explore what no single person can contain.
Application
You need community to comprehend what you cannot grasp alone.
Prayer  
Father, increase my capacity to receive Your love. Take me deeper into the breadth and length and height and depth of what Christ has done for me. Surround me with people who are exploring the same love so that together we can know You more.
]]> https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/07/still-a-people-who-are-you-day-5#comments 0 Still A People: Who Are You – Day 4 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/06/still-a-people-who-are-you-day-4 Thu, 06 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/06/still-a-people-who-are-you-day-4

STILL A PEOPLE

WHO ARE YOU?

August 3 – August 9, 2026
Paul writes Ephesians 3:14–21 from a prison cell — and yet he kneels. Not in defeat, but in declaration. This week we slow down inside one of the most powerful prayers in Scripture and let it answer one of the most important questions we can ask: Who are you? You are a child with access. You are someone being strengthened by the Spirit. You are rooted in love too vast to fully measure. You are being filled with all the fullness of God. Each day this week, we open one layer of Paul's prayer and let it shape how we live, love, and follow Jesus.

Day 4

Thursday, August 6

You Can Only Stand as Deep as You Are Rooted

Ephesians 3:17
"So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith — that you, being rooted and grounded in love…"

Reflection
Paul prays for Christ to dwell — not visit — in our hearts. The Greek word means to settle in, to make a home. And the result of that settled presence is that we become rooted and grounded in love. Roots go down before fruit goes out. You cannot love consistently from a shallow place. You cannot walk in the obedience the rest of Ephesians calls for without being spiritually grounded first. Underspiritualizing our salvation makes God's commands feel optional — something we follow when convenient, when we feel like it, when it fits our personality. But when Christ is at home in you, obedience becomes possible — not because you are stronger, but because He is deeper.
Application
The depth of your roots determines the strength of your fruit.
Prayer  
Jesus, make Your home in me. Not as a visitor I check in with occasionally, but as the One who shapes everything from the inside. Root me so deeply in Your love that what f lows out of me looks like You.
]]> https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/06/still-a-people-who-are-you-day-4#comments 0 Still A People: Who Are You – Day 3 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/05/still-a-people-who-are-you-day-3 Wed, 05 Aug 2026 06:24:28 +0000 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/05/still-a-people-who-are-you-day-3

STILL A PEOPLE

WHO ARE YOU?

August 3 – August 9, 2026
Paul writes Ephesians 3:14–21 from a prison cell — and yet he kneels. Not in defeat, but in declaration. This week we slow down inside one of the most powerful prayers in Scripture and let it answer one of the most important questions we can ask: Who are you? You are a child with access. You are someone being strengthened by the Spirit. You are rooted in love too vast to fully measure. You are being filled with all the fullness of God. Each day this week, we open one layer of Paul's prayer and let it shape how we live, love, and follow Jesus.

Day 3

Wednesday, August 5

He Has More Than Enough for What You're Facing

Ephesians 3:16
"…that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being."

Reflection
Paul doesn't pray that God would give from the riches of His glory — he prays that God would give according to them. The difference is everything. God is rich in mercy. Rich in grace. Rich in love. Rich in power. He took people who were spiritually dead and made them alive. He did not spare His own Son. Whatever you are facing today — whatever feels too large, too heavy, too far gone — God has more than enough. His supply is not strained by your need. He leveraged His greatest asset — His own Son — to pay your debt. Everything else flows from that.
Application
God doesn't give sparingly — He gives according to the riches of His glory.
Prayer  
Lord, strengthen me in my inner being today. I don't need my circumstances to change first — I need Your Spirit to empower me from the inside out. Remind me that Your supply is not limited by the size of my need.
]]> https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/05/still-a-people-who-are-you-day-3#comments 0 Still A People: Who Are You – Day 2 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/05/still-a-people-who-are-you-day-2 Wed, 05 Aug 2026 06:19:38 +0000 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/05/still-a-people-who-are-you-day-2

STILL A PEOPLE

WHO ARE YOU?

August 3 – August 9, 2026
Paul writes Ephesians 3:14–21 from a prison cell — and yet he kneels. Not in defeat, but in declaration. This week we slow down inside one of the most powerful prayers in Scripture and let it answer one of the most important questions we can ask: Who are you? You are a child with access. You are someone being strengthened by the Spirit. You are rooted in love too vast to fully measure. You are being filled with all the fullness of God. Each day this week, we open one layer of Paul's prayer and let it shape how we live, love, and follow Jesus.

Day 2

Tuesday, August 4

You Don't Have to Earn Your Way Into the Room

Galatians 4:6-7
"And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."

Reflection
Paul wrote Ephesians from prison — but he didn't write as a prisoner. He wrote as a son. His circumstances were confined, but his identity was not. The Spirit inside him was crying "Abba!" — the most intimate word for Father — and no chains could silence that cry. This is your reality too. You are not a stranger who has to knock. You are not a servant who earns access. You are a son, a daughter, an heir. The Spirit inside you is the seal of that identity. He enables you to approach God not with performance, but with confidence — not because of who you are, but because of Whose you are.
Application
You are not a stranger trying to earn access — you are a child who already belongs.
Prayer  
Abba, thank You for making me Your child. Help me approach You today not as someone who has to earn Your attention, but as someone who already has Your heart. Let the Spirit remind me of who I am in You.
]]> https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/05/still-a-people-who-are-you-day-2#comments 0 Still A People: Who Are You – Day 1 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/03/still-a-people-who-are-you-day-1 Mon, 03 Aug 2026 11:39:07 +0000 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/03/still-a-people-who-are-you-day-1

STILL A PEOPLE

WHO ARE YOU?

Monday, August 3 – August 9, 2026
Paul writes Ephesians 3:14–21 from a prison cell — and yet he kneels. Not in defeat, but in declaration. This week we slow down inside one of the most powerful prayers in Scripture and let it answer one of the most important questions we can ask: Who are you? You are a child with access. You are someone being strengthened by the Spirit. You are rooted in love too vast to fully measure. You are being filled with all the fullness of God. Each day this week, we open one layer of Paul's prayer and let it shape how we live, love, and follow Jesus.

Day 1

Monday, August 3

When You Bow, Something in You Breaks Open

Ephesians3:14
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,

Reflection
Paul is in prison. His circumstances have not changed. And yet he drops to his knees — not in defeat, but in declaration. The posture of prayer is itself a statement of who you believe is in charge. Paul doesn't open with complaints. He opens with worship. He opens with access. And the reason he kneels is rooted in everything God has already done — the mystery revealed, the gospel entrusted, sinners brought near. Before he asks God for anything, he reminds himself of everything. This is what prayer does when it is rooted in the gospel: it reorients you before it requests anything.
Application
Before you ask God for what you need, remember what He has already done.
Prayer  
Father, I come to You today with my knees bent and my heart open. Reorient me around Your goodness before I bring You my requests. Remind me of all You have already done so I can trust You with what I am still waiting for.
]]> https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/03/still-a-people-who-are-you-day-1#comments 0 Moved to Pray: Reflecting on the Riches of God's Love https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/02/moved-to-pray-reflecting-on-the-riches-of-god-s-love Sun, 02 Aug 2026 13:47:01 +0000 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/02/moved-to-pray-reflecting-on-the-riches-of-god-s-love
Ephesians 3:14–21

One of the beautiful things about reading Paul's letters is that he often lets us listen in on his prayers. Ephesians 3:14–21 is one of those moments.

Paul writes:
"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father..."

Immediately, a question comes to mind: What is the reason? Why is Paul so moved that he falls to his knees in prayer?

To answer that, we have to look back at what he has been saying throughout the earlier part of Ephesians 3.

The Reason Paul Prays

Paul has been reflecting on the mystery of the gospel—a mystery that, throughout history, had only been revealed to a select few before now being made known through Christ. He is humbled and amazed that God would graciously include him among those entrusted to proclaim this mystery to the saints in Ephesus.

He also recognizes that God has lavished His riches upon His people so that the church would reveal God's wisdom, glory, and eternal plan to the world.

But what exactly are these riches?

When Paul repeatedly speaks of God's riches and His lavish grace, I believe he is speaking primarily about relationship with God Himself.

The riches of God are not merely blessings that come from Him—they are God giving Himself to us.

These riches include the indwelling Holy Spirit, Jesus as our Lord, and perhaps most astonishingly, our ability to approach the Father with confidence because we belong to Him.

Boldness and Access

Earlier in chapter 3, Paul says that in Christ we have "boldness and access."

To us, those words may sound ordinary, but to Paul's original audience they would have carried powerful royal imagery.

Imagine approaching Caesar.

In the Roman world, no one casually walked into the emperor's presence. You approached with fear and trembling. Respect was expected, and boldness from someone outside his inner circle could easily be interpreted as arrogance—or even treason.

Perhaps Caesar had a handful of trusted people who could approach him freely. If he had no one with that kind of access, it likely would have resulted in isolation, betrayal, or conspiracy.

Now compare that with God.

The King of kings invites those in His family to approach Him boldly.

Not only are we welcomed into His presence, but we are invited to call Him by His intimate family name: Abba, Father.

Earthly emperors offered limited, if any, access to ordinary people. Access was reserved for those born into the right family or those possessing immense wealth.
Yet God, in His immeasurable riches, did what no earthly king would ever do.
He gave His own Son so that people like us could have unrestricted access to Him.
What incredible love from the true King.

Reflection That Leads to Prayer

This is why Paul bows his knees. As he reflects on God's love, God's grace, and God's generosity—even while sitting in prison—he cannot help but pray. His circumstances do not overshadow God's goodness. Instead, God's goodness overshadows his circumstances.

That challenges me.
  • How often do I stop long enough to reflect on what God has done?
  • How often am I so overwhelmed by His grace that I am moved to pray?
  • How often do I consider all that God is accomplishing through His people—even in suffering—and find myself on my knees before Him?
When we reflect on the price God paid to give us access to Himself, prayer becomes a natural response.

Welcomed Into the Royal Family

Access means more than permission to approach God. It means adoption. Through Christ we have become part of God's family. We now stand alongside all those who have faithfully trusted Him throughout history.

Jesus is our elder Brother, the One who satisfied the righteous demands of the law on our behalf. Now, when the Father looks at us, He sees the righteousness of Christ. He acknowledges us as His own. This truly is an elite family—but not because of anything its members have accomplished. It is elite because of the One with whom we are associated. We are who we are because of Jesus.

Equipped for Every Season

Like a loving Father, God equips His children for the work He calls them to do. Unlike earthly fathers, God gives us His own Spirit. Simply put, He has the riches to do so.
The Holy Spirit strengthens us to accomplish God's will, which Paul has already described as making the gospel known through the church—even in the midst of suffering.

This means God prepares us for every season. Whether life is joyful or painful, we are not left to rely on our own strength. The endless resources of God's Spirit sustain us. Not only so that we can endure, but so that we can press forward, proclaim Christ, and testify to how deeply God has loved us and what He has rescued us from.

God saved us from spiritual death. He didn't simply give us new life. He gave us Himself through the Holy Spirit so that we could live lives that reflect Him.

Christ Dwelling in Our Hearts

If the Holy Spirit dwells within us, then Christ truly dwells in our hearts through faith. This fulfills what God promised long ago through the prophet Jeremiah:

"I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts... I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (Jeremiah 31:33)

This new covenant reminds us that everything we have received comes through faith.
We did not earn any of it. We simply receive what God graciously gives. Even the faith by which we believe is something we are incapable of producing apart from His grace.

Rooted and Grounded in Love

If all of this is true, then we should truly taste and see that the Lord is good. We should allow ourselves to be shaped by His love. Grounded in His love. Rooted in His love. God's love should become the foundation upon which we build our church, our relationships, and our pursuit of holiness.

As Paul prepares in the following chapters to instruct believers on how they ought to live, he first reminds them of something essential. Before hearing the commands of God, they must first remember the love of God. Every call to obedience is framed by the immeasurable cost of our salvation. God spared no expense. He gave His only Son so that we might be conformed into His image and live for His glory.

Learning the Love That Cannot Be Measured

Paul prays that believers would know the breadth, length, height, and depth of Christ's love—a love that ultimately surpasses knowledge. There are several realities we must continue reflecting on if we are to remain grounded in that love. First, we must understand that love is not merely something God does. Love is part of who He is.

It is essential that we learn how His love harmonizes with every other aspect of His character. Second, we must remember what God actually saved us from. The depth of His love becomes clearer when we remember the depth of our need. We should never lose sight of the price He was willing to pay or the investment He made by placing His own Spirit within us.

Finally, we must accept that knowing God's love is a lifelong pursuit. The infinite nature of God means we will never exhaust our understanding of Him. We are learning about Someone who is infinitely beyond our capacity to comprehend. Yet something remarkable happens as we continue pursuing Him. The more we know Him, the more we are filled with Him.

A Prayer Bigger Than Words

Paul concludes with one of the most beloved doxologies in all of Scripture. He acknowledges that even his own prayer cannot fully express everything God's people truly need. So he entrusts the unanswered parts of his prayer to the God who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or imagine. God fills the gaps. Not because of our ability, but because of His. Not for our fame, but for His glory.

As we enjoy the riches of knowing God and the access Christ has purchased for us, we are drawn into greater unity as His people. His glory becomes our joy. His purposes become our purpose. And His church continues to display His wisdom from generation to generation.

To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
]]> https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/02/moved-to-pray-reflecting-on-the-riches-of-god-s-love#comments 0 Still A People: THE MANIFOLD WISDOM OF GOD ON DISPLAY – Day 7 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/02/still-a-people-the-manifold-wisdom-of-god-on-display-day-7 Sun, 02 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/02/still-a-people-the-manifold-wisdom-of-god-on-display-day-7

STILL A PEOPLE

THE MANIFOLD WISDOM
OF GOD ON DISPLAY

Monday, July 27 – August 2, 2026

Day 7

Sunday, August 2

Remember. Rejoice. Reveal.

Ephesians3:11
"…according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our

Reflection
Paul closes this passage by anchoring everything in the eternal. God's plan to display His manifold wisdom through the Church was not a last-minute adjustment. It was not a contingency. It was His eternal purpose — decided before time, accomplished in Christ, unfolding through you. Remember where you were without Him. Rejoice in what Christ restored through His cross. And reveal God's manifold wisdom by being the Church — loving one another, forgiving one another, discipling one another, sharing the Gospel, planting churches, and making His glory known. The world is watching. Heaven is watching. And God, in His infinite wisdom, chose you to be part of the display.
Application
You are not an accident in God's story — you are a living exhibit of His manifold wisdom.
Prayer  
Lord, I receive all three commands today. I will remember Your grace. I will rejoice in Your restoration. And I will commit to being the Church through which Your wisdom is revealed. Use my ordinary life for Your extraordinary glory.
]]> https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/02/still-a-people-the-manifold-wisdom-of-god-on-display-day-7#comments 0 Still A People: THE MANIFOLD WISDOM OF GOD ON DISPLAY – Day 6 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/01/still-a-people-the-manifold-wisdom-of-god-on-display-day-6 Sat, 01 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/01/still-a-people-the-manifold-wisdom-of-god-on-display-day-6

STILL A PEOPLE

THE MANIFOLD WISDOM
OF GOD ON DISPLAY

Monday, July 27 – August 2, 2026

Day 6

Saturday, August 1

The Church Is God's Display Case

Ephesians3:10
"His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms."

Reflection
God had a strategy. Not a program. Not a platform. Not a personality. A Church. Paul reveals that the very reason God reconciled sinners to Himself and to one another was so that through the Church — through ordinary, broken, Spirit-filled people in community — His manifold wisdom would be put on display to a watching world and a watching heaven. The word "manifold" means multi-colored, manyfaceted, endlessly varied. God's wisdom is too rich and too vast for any one person to display. It takes a whole body. It takes people who should never have been together, living as one — and that togetherness is the testimony.
Application
When you love, forgive, disciple, and serve within the Church, you are displaying God's wisdom to the universe.
Prayer  
God, let me take the Church seriously — not as a program I attend, but as the display case You have placed me in. Help me live in such a way that Your wisdom is visible in how I love, forgive, and serve those around me.
]]> https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/08/01/still-a-people-the-manifold-wisdom-of-god-on-display-day-6#comments 0 Still A People: THE MANIFOLD WISDOM OF GOD ON DISPLAY – Day 5 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/07/31/still-a-people-the-manifold-wisdom-of-god-on-display-day-5 Fri, 31 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0000 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/07/31/still-a-people-the-manifold-wisdom-of-god-on-display-day-5

STILL A PEOPLE

THE MANIFOLD WISDOM
OF GOD ON DISPLAY

Monday, July 27 – August 2, 2026

Day 5

Friday, July 31

The Most Extraordinary Access in the Universe

Ephesians 2:18
"For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit."

Reflection
In Paul's world, Roman citizenship was the pinnacle of privilege — it meant status, protection, and rights that others could only envy. Paul himself invoked it when his life was on the line. But then he says to the church: what you have is better. Through Jesus, you have direct access to the Father. No system to navigate. No intermediary to appease. No citizenship to earn. Through Christ, by one Spirit, you walk into the presence of the Creator of the universe — as a child approaching a Father, not a subject approaching a king. That access never expires. It cannot be revoked. And it is available to you right now.
Application
You have direct access to the Father — don't live as if you're still on the outside.
Prayer  
Father, I confess that I often live as though the door is still closed. Remind me today that through Jesus, I am welcome. I am near. I am Yours. Let me walk through the day with the confidence of a child who knows they belong.
]]> https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/07/31/still-a-people-the-manifold-wisdom-of-god-on-display-day-5#comments 0 Still A People: THE MANIFOLD WISDOM OF GOD ON DISPLAY – Day 4 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/07/30/still-a-people-the-manifold-wisdom-of-god-on-display-day-4 Thu, 30 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0000 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/07/30/still-a-people-the-manifold-wisdom-of-god-on-display-day-4

STILL A PEOPLE

THE MANIFOLD WISDOM
OF GOD ON DISPLAY

Monday, July 27 – August 2, 2026

Day 4

Thursday, July 30

He Didn't Just Bring Peace. He Is Peace.

Ephesians 2:14
"For He Himself is our peace."

Reflection
Paul could have said Jesus brought peace. He could have said Jesus made peace possible. But he says something far more stunning: Jesus Himself is our peace. Peace is not a gift He hands you and walks away from. Peace is a Person who stays. The hostility between you and God — destroyed. The wall that separated you from belonging — torn down. The division between people who had no business being in the same room — reconciled. All of it accomplished in Christ, because Christ did not just teach peace. He embodied it, bled it, and became it for us.
Application
When you cannot find peace, you don't need a better strategy — you need more of Jesus.
Prayer  
Lord, when anxiety rises and my soul grows restless, remind me that peace is not something I manufacture. You are my peace. Draw me back to You — not to a practice, but to a Person.
]]> https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/07/30/still-a-people-the-manifold-wisdom-of-god-on-display-day-4#comments 0 Still A People: THE MANIFOLD WISDOM OF GOD ON DISPLAY – Day 3 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/07/29/still-a-people-the-manifold-wisdom-of-god-on-display-day-3 Wed, 29 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0000 https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/07/29/still-a-people-the-manifold-wisdom-of-god-on-display-day-3

STILL A PEOPLE

THE MANIFOLD WISDOM
OF GOD ON DISPLAY

Monday, July 27 – August 2, 2026

Day 3

Wednesday, July 29

Two Words That Changed Everything

Ephesians 2:13
"But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ."

Reflection
"But now." Two words. And everything shifts. Paul has just painted the bleakest picture imaginable — and then he pivots with those two words. But now. This is how the Gospel always moves: it enters the sentence right where hope ran out. But now you are brought near. But now you are no longer far. But now the distance between you and God has been closed — not by your effort, your religion, or your goodness, but by the blood of Jesus Christ. The pivot is not gradual. It is immediate. It is decisive. And it is entirely His doing.
Application
Wherever your story feels stuck in the "without" — Jesus is the "but now."
Prayer  
Jesus, thank You for being my "but now." Thank You for entering the gap between who I was and who I am in You. Help me live today in the full reality of what You have already done.
]]> https://thebrookmiami.org/blog/2026/07/29/still-a-people-the-manifold-wisdom-of-god-on-display-day-3#comments 0