Ephesians 2:1-10

Be Still: Father God, soften my heart by your Holy Spirit that I may grasp and live this day within the immense love you have toward me in Christ. Amen

Read: Ephesians 2:1-10

‘But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved’ (v4-5).

Encounter: I’ve been reading some books about those who have climbed or attempted to climb Mount Everest. This mountain is a giant. Think big and then think bigger. Situated on the Chinese-Nepal border it rises to a height of just over 29,000ft. That is the height a plane cruises. Let that sink in. It is so high that you need special supplies of pressurised oxygen to breathe up there. Climbing Everest is not just difficult, it's almost impossible for humans. 

Our passage today speaks of something even more impossible for humans to overcome, to climb – the problem of our own sin (‘trespasses’ v.5). Without Christ, Paul is saying, we humans not only make a complete mess of our lives but also ultimately are spiritually ‘dead’ and one day will be physically as well. No human can overcome that challenge. No human can fix such a problem. No amount of good works and attempts to please God, no amount of keeping religious rules, can climb us up and over the barrier of sin and death. 

This is why Jesus is so good – why God’s love for us, revealed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, is so incredible. He has saved us! Made us 'alive together with Christ’. This is how we know what love is and this is why Jesus, and faith in him, is so unique and powerful. ‘By grace you have been saved!’ (v5).

Apply: Is there any area of your life where you are striving rather than resting in the grace of God in Christ? Is there anything of your own ability to 'overcome' that you need to let go of – and instead surrender afresh to the power of God’s grace in Jesus. 

Devote: Father God thank you for your great love for me and your forgiveness of all my sin through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Pour out your grace and love into my heart and mind afresh today. I receive your grace.