Exodus 33; John 12; Proverbs 9: Ephesians 2
So many familiar and favorite passages today. How can I read them and not feel blessed beyond measure. Amidst them all, two thoughts are coming together in my mind from Ephesians chapter 2.
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”(Eph. 2:4-9)
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10)
I separated verse 10 on purpose. I have always liked its thought about being God’s workmanship created for good works. He has a purpose and a plan of action for me. I like that. But this morning I am looking backwards at the passage and see what part of that plan must look like. Just as I was once dead in my sins, so are all of those who daily cross my path who have not received this marvelous gift of grace. Do I see them that way? I am currently reading “Dead Men Walking” after seeing the movie a while back. Is the phrase, “dead men walking” how I should come to think of the world without Christ? How would that change my perspective. In John 12 Jesus tells us that he came into the world not to judge the world but to save it. How Christlike has my attitude been towards unbelievers-especially the ones who can be so antagonistic? Loving people the way Christ loves me, the way Christ loved me when I was one of the dead men walking is no easy task; but I did not sign up for easy when by faith I came to Christ. I am praying this morning that God would give me a heart that loves people the way that He does, especially for the ones who can be so hard to love. That He helps me to see people the way that He does-precious in His sight and worth dying for. Because to love in this way certainly means there are parts of me that need to be put to death. Who knows, maybe some of those dead men walking that I meet will see Christ in me and come to know Him as their Lord and Savior and be lifted from death to life-and wouldn’t that be glorious.
Grace, peace, and mercy,
Debra