Scripture: Ephesians 2.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Ephesians 2:1-10 (GW)

1 You were once dead because of your failures and sins.

2 You followed the ways of this present world and its spiritual ruler. This ruler continues to work in people who refuse to obey God.

3 All of us once lived among these people, and followed the desires of our corrupt nature. We did what our corrupt desires and thoughts wanted us to do. So, because of our nature, we deserved God’s anger just like everyone else.

4 But God is rich in mercy because of his great love for us.

5 We were dead because of our failures, but he made us alive together with Christ. (It is God’s kindness that saved you.)

6 God has brought us back to life together with Christ Jesus and has given us a position in heaven with him.

7 He did this through Christ Jesus out of his generosity to us in order to show his extremely rich kindness in the world to come.

8 God saved you through faith as an act of kindness. You had nothing to do with it. Being saved is a gift from God.

9 It’s not the result of anything you’ve done, so no one can brag about it.

10 God has made us what we are. He has created us in Christ Jesus to live lives filled with good works that he has prepared for us to do.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

This Scripture reminds me that it is on Christ, the Solid Rock that I stand because of His love and sacrifice for me. We hear a lot about people who look at others and call them Mr. or Mrs. ‘Goodie 2’Shoe’ because they stand before them with their chest protruded and boast about how good they are. Friends, we were born into a world of sin and it captured our very hearts. Had it not been for the grace of God – His unfailing love, His enormous sacrifice, His everlasting mercy and His saving grace, we would have still been living in our sinful nature. Unfortunately, many still are living this way because of their own choice to not accept God’s gift of eternal life. But I believe that God repeatedly deals with them and places a desire in their heart to surrender their lives over to Him before it is too late. You see, sin has such a grip on this world and the children of this world that it is only through the power of our wonderful Lord that this hold can be broken and lives humbled into submission to the only One that loves them unconditionally and gave His life for them so that, once surrendered to Him, they too can join us around the throne of grace and live eternally in heaven one day. Where are you at friend? Have you allowed Jesus to help you break the chords of sin and truly give it all up for Him? As one who has, let me assure you that you will lose nothing, but instead gain the love of One who has sacrificed himself for you and has prepared a place for you in heaven. So not only will you lose nothing of value in this world, but you gain access to the creator of this universe and gain the world to come – heaven itself! Why not join me and millions others who have accepted this gift of love and given Jesus rule, authority and dominion over our lives so that we may live a better and more acceptable life in Him.

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, thank You for softening my heart some 37 years ago and leading me into a decision to accept You as Lord and Savior of my life. I am reminded that this occurred only because of Your love for me and your patience with me and Your constant prodding. Thank You for loving me that much, as many in this world had probably given up on me already. Please touch the hearts of my family and/or friends today, especially those that will read this devotional and reflect on its truth from Your Word. Please don’t give up on them, but whisper words of encouragement to them even today so that they may surrender unconditionally to the only One who loves them sacrificially. May this be a day that You will see results from Your Word being shared through this media and in Wednesday evening services around the world. Thank You for accepting this child into Your kingdom and for watching out for me each and every day!

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com
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