God Has a Plan for Everyone!

May 18, 2025

Ephesians 2:1-10 is one of my favorite paragraphs in the Bible. This paragraph is easily divided into two parts, before and after. Here is the before. Verse 1 tells us we (that’s us) were DEAD in our trespasses and sins. Verse 2 tells us that we (that’s us, again) once walked the same way the world walks. In other words, our lifestyle was just the same as the rest of the world. This verse also tells us we lived under the power and influence of the “prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (that’s Satan). Verse 3 continues by telling us we (that’s us), lived any way we wanted to, our goal was to fulfill all our lusts and desires. Paul informs us that by our very nature (sin nature), we were “Children of wrath” (we were in line to receive the wrath of God). These first three verses could be titled “What a mess!” Oh, but look at the first two words of verse 4, “But God.” That phrase is my favorite phrase in the Bible. We were a mess, slaves of sin, and under God’s wrath. Oh, by the way, yes, God loves us, but the wrath of God is a real thing. Now, let verse 5 sink in. God, who is rich in mercy and love, “Made us alive when we were dead.’ We have to understand the significance of that phrase. We didn’t give ourselves life. We were dead. Dead things can’t do anything. If anything is to be done on behalf of a dead person, someone living must do it. The Living God gave us life! By His power, grace, and mercy, we (that’s us) were born again. Not only did the Living God give us life, but the last part of verse 5 and verse 6 tell us God also joined us together with Jesus Christ and raised us to sit in heavenly places. Those heavenly places are our final destination. We might be living on earth right now, but our ultimate destination as Christ followers is heaven. Brothers and Sisters, because of Jesus, our reservation in heaven has already been made. It is waiting for us in that great by and by. God did all this so that He (God) could show us His grace and kindness. Then, because God knows how we humans think, in verses 8 and 9, God reminds us, our salvation isn’t given to us because we did anything ourselves. If we could save ourselves, all we would do is brag about us. Our being made alive is totally by the grace and mercy of God. Paul ends this paragraph in verse 10 by giving us the reason God leaves His children (that’s us) on earth, and that is to do the good works God has planned for us. That’s right, God has things already planned for each of us to do. Perhaps this is what Jesus had in mind when He said in His Sermon on the Mount, we are to be salt and light to the world. If the “before” section of this paragraph could be titled “What a mess!” the “after” section could be titled “What a God!” Aren’t you thankful for the phrase “But God?” Let’s live like it!

Be Blessed and be a Blessing . . . Bro. Andy