Focus

Prepare yourself to discern what is and what is not of God today. Still yourself so you can hear how God is calling you.

---

Read

Ephesians 2:1-10 (NRSV)

You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, 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 immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

---

Reflect

Most of us do not like to think about death, especially our own. There is no greater contrast in human experience than that of life and death. Eventually, we are all going to face physical death; however, in our scripture for today, Paul was not referring to physical death. He was writing about spiritual death—about eternal separation from God.

Paul began by presenting a hopeless humanity—a humanity trapped in sin and fully under Satan’s power, incapable of freeing itself, and doomed for spiritual death. Then the apostle dramatically shifted to the good news, as he wrote, “But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us” (verse 4). With two words, But God, Paul revealed the cornerstone of our faith. “But God…made us alive together with Christ… raised us up with him and seated us with him… (verses 5-6).

God made a way for us to avoid spiritual death; through the resurrection of Jesus, God has made possible eternal life. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (verse 8). Our salvation is the result of God’s undeserved favor on us, not due to any efforts, abilities, or acts of service on our part. Our gratitude for this free gift produces a desire within us to glorify Christ by humbly serving others with justice and kindness (Micah 6:8).

---

Pray

Gracious God, we thank you for your mercy and grace, the grace that saves us from our sins and calls us to glorify your name through lives of faithful service. Amen.

Go with God.