Ephesians 2:1-10
1You were dead through the trespasses and sins 2in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. 3All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else.
4But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us 5even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—9not the result of works, so that no one may boast. 10For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
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Immediately upon reading these verses I was taken back to 1996 when the last Billy Graham Crusade took place in Minneapolis. Having watched Billy Graham on TV for decades, I volunteered, and was assigned to be a Children’s Counselor. Included in the training was the memorization of certain bible verses, two being Ephesians 2:8 & 9.
These verses are special to me partly for that reason, but all ten verses add even more understanding to what God is like, and what he has done for us, to bring us from death – to life.
God is rich in mercy, having great love, with immeasurable riches of grace and kindness toward us, he raises us up with Jesus, making us alive with Christ. All as a gift, it’s not dependent on us, what we do, or don’t do, it’s all God, who through Christ Jesus gives us faith, and life!
We think that we have to do something, that nothing is really free- that’s typically how this world works, but God is not of this world. His free gifts equal life now, and eternally.
Though works are not required for our salvation, they’re still important. Verse 10 states “created in Christ Jesus for good works…to be our way of life.”
God’s plan for us includes service. The Lord knows that serving not only helps others, but gives both the doer and the receiver, life. You know the feeling, after doing something you felt lead to do. Sometimes, do you get to see the blessing it is in the face of the receiver? My heart also swells with joy when I see, or hear, someone else shining the light, love and life of Christ in the world! It’s life for all! And when done in gratitude to God, it’s also worship and a loving response to Him who first loved us.
Prayer: Lord, Thank you for your amazing grace, and for the free gifts of faith, salvation and life. Help us to live in gratitude to you, by sharing your love and gifts with others. Amen
—Rhonda Grunwald