November 20, 2022 . . .
When I take my lunchbreak at work, I often read God’s Word, and today’s reading, Ephesians 2:1-10, really hit home. Verse one talks about a birth. It’s talking about my birth (if you are a born-again believer, Paul is talking about your birth too). He’s not referring to a physical birth, but rather, a Spiritual one. At one time, I was a walking dead man. I didn’t know it, but to God, I was dead in my trespasses and sins. I was as far away from God as any human being who ever lived. Verses two and three force me to remind myself where I was, as far as God was concerned. It’s not that I did anything worthy of being on the news or anything like that, but I lived my life like most everybody else, doing what I felt like doing by satisfying the desires of the flesh. If I wanted to do it, I did it. If it tasted good, I ate it. If it felt good, I tried it. I figured, as long as I wasn’t hurting anyone, what could be wrong with it? What I didn’t know is, I was a walking dead man. So was everyone else living the same lifestyle I was. Then something funny happened. The first phrase of verse four explains it (by the way, Ephesians 2:4-6 are among my favorite verses in all of Scripture). “But God”. I was living life one way, BUT GOD had other plans! “But God, who is rich in mercy for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us (made us alive) together with Christ (by grace are ye saved;) And hath raised us up together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Talk about a miracle! I am a walking miracle. If you are a Christ follower, you are too. I probably should point out the next verse because it explains why God did what He did. I may have benefitted by my new birth, and so did you when He saved you. But God saved me and saved you so that we would glorify His name, not only today and tomorrow but throughout eternity. God saved us so that we would tell others of His great mercy, great grace, and endless love. If that doesn’t make you want to jump up and shout, then your jumper may be malfunctioning.
Be blessed and be a blessing . . . Bro. Andy
