SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 2:1-10
OBSERVATIONS
1. (vv.1-3) This passage reminds me of how serious my sin condition is, apart from God’s mercy: spiritually dead, following the ways of the world and of the devil, gratifying the cravings of the sinful nature, following its desires and thoughts, by nature an object of wrath.
APPLICATION: Do I sense how serious sin is? Do I appreciate the ugliness of sin, and how desperate my condition was? Do I truly hate this sin nature?
2. (vv.4-5,7) We can only appreciate how amazing God’s mercy is when we appreciate how serious our sin condition is. Paul stresses God’s great love, incomparably rich mercy, kindness in Jesus, but this is only obvious to those who are aware of the ugliness of sin.
APPLICATION: I tend to take God’s grace for granted. Do I feel the impact of grace as John Newton did, “amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me”? Am I lukewarm to grace because I am lukewarm to sin?
3. (vv.6-10) This passage shows the purpose of Christ-followers: they are saved and exalted with Jesus to be living demonstrations to the world of God’s amazing grace to us (undeserving sinners) and through us (doing good works).
APPLICATION: Do I represent God’s amazing grace, both in how I receive it, and in how I share it with others? If I am God’s living message, what is the message that the world is getting through me?
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for Your amazing grace, and for rescuing me from the ugliness of sin. Forgive me for taking Your grace for granted, and help me to show others how amazing it is! Amen.
God knows and is fully aware of who I am. But am I? I am dead in MY sin and MY trespasses following the ways of the world and the desires of MY heart. God certainly knows My condition – the condition of what I was!
Praise God that I have been made alive in Christ even though I was dead! I have been raised with Christ Jesus, receiving the gift of His grace. I am no longer who I was, but I am God’s workmanship created in Christ to do good works!
God knew who I was. It is up to me to take Him at His Word about who I am now. The past is the old way. In Jesus Christ I am renewed to do the good works He calls me to do.
All of this is made a possibility by verse 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God. Help me each day anew Lord to live my life with an attitude of graditude. Every day needs to be a living thanksgiving in all I do and say. Thanksliving for the new LIFE!