Ephesians 2:1 – 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. (NIV)
What a wonderful portrait of God – rich in mercy and grace! Even while we were dead in our sin, God’s grace broke through! Personally, this is a passage I return to often. When I fall short, more often than I care to admit, I find comfort in knowing that even in my sin the grace of God is freely given to me – again and again!
Verses eight and nine tell us that even if we were to somehow achieve perfection, that wouldn’t earn God’s grace. That’s Good News, since none of us are will ever achieve perfection.
Note that we are God’s handiwork! How wonderful! I love the splendor of the outdoors: the majesty of the mountains; the peacefulness of a mountain stream; the beauty of a meadow. I love them because I am so mindful that they are all God’s handiwork, but so are we! Like the beautiful things in nature that point to how great God is, you and I are something beautiful, too! When we live as a disciple, doing good works as a response of love and gratitude towards God, how much more beautiful we become!
Today, let us give thanks to God for what God is making of us!
Posted by Ramón Torres
God’s Masterpiece a never ending labor of love🙏🙏🙏