Focus

Let yourself become open to God and the knowledge that comes from the Word. Ask God for peace at this time.

---

Read

Ephesians 2:1-7 (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.

---

Reflect

Isn’t God good? Isn’t God good to us? God created us to be good. Unfortunately, our human nature tends to succumb to the world around us. But God gave us a wonderful gift through Jesus Christ who died for our sinful ways. We didn’t have to work for it; it was given through the generous grace of God and because of God’s wondrous love for each of us.

Without this gift of forgiveness and everlasting life, we are truly nothing. In other words, we can wander around filled with sin and be lost to the ungodly encounters of this world. Or, we can accept this life that God has created for us. We can be set apart to do good things, love others, show grace, and strive for peace with others.

God really wants to give us the good life. As humans we tend to stray. We often fight against a good life—knowing we are not really worthy of the goodness God has to offer. However, just as the scripture states, God’s grace and forgiveness are a gift. God doesn’t take it back but continues to bless us with even more.

---

Pray

Thank you, God, for your gift of grace and forgiveness in my life. I will strive to accept it more openly and easily in my daily life. For without you, I am nothing. Amen.

Go with God.