Ephesians 2:1-10 (NIV)
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 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. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Reflection:
As a former captain of a slave trade ship in the 18th century, John Newton powerfully experienced God’s mercy while encountering a storm at sea. From that moment on, his life was dramatically and forever changed, as he gives up his slave trade profession and goes into full time ministry. One day as he reflected upon God’s incredible work in his life, he penned the powerful opening stanza of his famous hymn “Amazing Grace”:
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
Many times we have a tendency to forget the darkness from which we came from- a time when we were under the power of sin and were dead in our transgressions. It is only by God’s grace that we have been made alive and saved into a life and relationship with Him. And as we continually remember God’s wonderful work in our own lives, we will grow into a deeper appreciation and thankfulness of Christ’s saving grace. We once were lost but now we are found, were blind but now we see!
Responding to Transmission:
Let’s thank God for His gift of grace and life in Christ, and pray that we live according to all of God’s good plans and purposes for our lives.
