The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Ephesians 2:3-10,
"All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects 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. 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. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Here is a passage that many are very familiar with. It is often looked to in an effort to ensure we have our theology "right". We look to it to learn that becoming a child of God is not something that we can earn. It is a gift given to all who believe. Further, it is used to point to the reality that as God's children, we are God's workmanship created "to do good works" and not sit on our duffs.
While all of this is certainly true and appropriate, there is a sweeping dimension to this passage that is breath-taking as we consider God, the One who has done these things for us. Here Paul tells us that it was while we were objects of God's wrath for the sin we pursued in our lives that God acted on our behalf. Paul tells us God is rich in mercy and that it is by his inexplicable kindness toward us that we are saved. It is by the "incomparable riches of his grace" expressed in God's kindness to us that he has given us a place with his Son, Jesus Christ, seating us together with him in the heavenly realms. What a thought to consider! The salvation we enjoy is the gift of God. God has given it to us through his love for us, his "grace" expressed to us. Where many, over the ages have attempted to achieve a good standing with God through their hard efforts, it turns out to be a free gift, availed simply by trusting in God, trusting in the resurrection of Jesus Christ that brings us this indescribable gift!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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