Good afternoon!
You are not what you used to be. You used to be dead, but now you are alive! And it’s all because of what God has done. And all because He loves you!
That’s what we hear in today’s reading in Ephesians 2:1-10. We are reminded of what we used to be by “nature, children of wrath, like everyone else.” And we are reminded of what we are now through this divine action:
“But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.”
And just so you aren’t thinking that maybe you did something that stirred God to do what He did, read on to this next part, when Ephesians assures us that “by grace you have been saved and raised up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…”
And if you are wondering why we were created and have been raised up with Christ to be seated in the heavenly places, you will discover that God has a special purpose for creating us and saving us. We aren’t saved by our works, but we are saved in order to do God’s good works!
The passage continues:
“so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.”
What is your loving God calling you to do today? Why did he rescue you from what you used to be and what does he have planned for your future? How can you live each day so that your life proclaims that you are no longer dead but are alive in Him?
Let us ask him together and seek to obey His will.
Holy Lord, thank you for loving us, even while we were by nature sinners and “children of wrath.” Thank you for lifting us up to be seated with you and your only Son, who suffered and died so we would not perish in our sins. Help us to trust in our salvation by grace through faith. Help us to really understand what grace means—that we cannot add anything to Christ’s saving work to improve our position or status with you. We are your precious children! Teach us how to walk in your ways and let Christ’s light shine through us, so everyone will know we are no longer dead in sin but are alive in Him! Help us to be still and listen for your voice, and hear what good works you have planned for us. Teach us obedience and make us your loving servants, ready in heart, mind, body and soul to do what you want us to do. In Christ we pray. Amen.
Blessings in His name,
Pastor Karen
You are not what you used to be. You used to be dead, but now you are alive! And it’s all because of what God has done. And all because He loves you!
That’s what we hear in today’s reading in Ephesians 2:1-10. We are reminded of what we used to be by “nature, children of wrath, like everyone else.” And we are reminded of what we are now through this divine action:
“But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.”
And just so you aren’t thinking that maybe you did something that stirred God to do what He did, read on to this next part, when Ephesians assures us that “by grace you have been saved and raised up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…”
And if you are wondering why we were created and have been raised up with Christ to be seated in the heavenly places, you will discover that God has a special purpose for creating us and saving us. We aren’t saved by our works, but we are saved in order to do God’s good works!
The passage continues:
“so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.”
What is your loving God calling you to do today? Why did he rescue you from what you used to be and what does he have planned for your future? How can you live each day so that your life proclaims that you are no longer dead but are alive in Him?
Let us ask him together and seek to obey His will.
Holy Lord, thank you for loving us, even while we were by nature sinners and “children of wrath.” Thank you for lifting us up to be seated with you and your only Son, who suffered and died so we would not perish in our sins. Help us to trust in our salvation by grace through faith. Help us to really understand what grace means—that we cannot add anything to Christ’s saving work to improve our position or status with you. We are your precious children! Teach us how to walk in your ways and let Christ’s light shine through us, so everyone will know we are no longer dead in sin but are alive in Him! Help us to be still and listen for your voice, and hear what good works you have planned for us. Teach us obedience and make us your loving servants, ready in heart, mind, body and soul to do what you want us to do. In Christ we pray. Amen.
Blessings in His name,
Pastor Karen
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