Today's Reading:O.T. - 1 Kings 12 - 13
N.T. - Ephesians 2
Focus Verses: Ephesians 2:4-10
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 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. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Insight:
God's good will toward humanity springs from his own great love, not from our merit, effort, or accomplishment. It's a good thing, because our effort and accomplishment would not get us very far. God's grace and mercy lift us out of the death-grip our sins and transgressions have on us. Instead of being trapped in a downward spiral of self-gratification and the disobedient ways of a fallen world, we are raised to live new lives in the grace and kindness of Christ. With my faith in Christ and my wholehearted surrender to him, I place myself in God's creative and all-wise hands, in order to be shaped by him. I am God's workmanship, created in Christ to fulfill a good purpose. God has plans for me.
Response and Action:
I praise God for his great love and mercy toward me, a person who was trapped in sin. I need to remember that I am no longer trapped! By the grace of Christ, I have freedom from sin and the promise of a new and purposeful life. I need to fully embrace God's good work for me. I need to be sensitive to his leading and guided by his word. I must yield to God's shaping hands and become his workmanship, being attentive to his leading, devoted to him in worship, faithful in the study of his word, and committed to walking in his ways.
O God. Thank you for saving me by your grace. Do not let the world squeeze me into it's mold, instead, transform me by the renewing of my mind. Show me your good, perfect, and pleasing will and strengthen me to live in it. Help me to be a good steward of all you have given me. Grant me the will and wisdom to guard my heart, feed my spirit, stimulate my mind, care for my body, and diligently do the good work you have laid before me. Amen.
Proverbs: 18:9
"One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys."
Resources:
The Life You've Always Wanted
by John Ortberg
