Because of the Great Love with which He Loved Us
August 6, 2020 | by: Stephen Sprague | 0 Comments
Posted in: Pastoral Encouragement
The Touchpoint articles for this week and next week are drawn from some of our devotions at SummerLink this past year. I encourage you to consider reading and discussing these with someone else – whether a spouse, family member, or friend.
Because of the Great Love with which He Loved Us
In 1 Timothy 1:15, Paul tells us that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” of whom Paul considers himself “the worst” or “the foremost”. This isn’t the only place that Paul or other New Testament authors remind us of what we are apart from Christ. According to James if we are guilty of breaking one part of the law of God (i.e. don’t lie, treat your neighbor/classmate poorly, murder, etc.) we’re guilty of breaking all the law of God and thus we need God’s mercy (James 2:10). According to Peter, as Christians, we have been called out of darkness and into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). And Paul, in multiple places, writes about this sort of thing.
Read: Today, I want us to simply marvel at the beauty of the good news of scripture – that we who are sinners can move from being under God’s judgement and unable to live with him, to receiving mercy and now viewed as holy (i.e. perfect in God’s eyes) and being able to live with him. Paul writes about this idea in Ephesians 2:1-10. Before you read, pray and ask God to help you to understand what he is saying to you from this passage. Read Ephesians 2:1-10
Think: This passage does two things – it reminds us of how bad we are apart from God and how beautiful the salvation is that we receive in Jesus. What are some of the parts of this passage that stand out to you the most? The transition in this passage occurs in verse 4 where Paul throws in the word “but.” From that point on the tone goes from dark to light. I know it can be weird sometimes as to think about feelings, but this passage should make us feel something. How does verses 4 and following make you feel?
I love the way Paul moves us in this passage from dead in our sins, to alive in Christ by the grace of God (not our works!), and then to reminding us that we are “created in Christ Jesus for good works.” Reflect on your life in the last few weeks – how have you walked in the good works that God has prepared for you? When have you not done this when you know you should have? Even this is a beautiful reminder that our good works are only good because they are given to us by Jesus. On our own they are never good enough, but in Christ they are good and pleasing to God. They don’t save us from our sin. Jesus does that. But we are called as Christians to live in a way that is pleasing to God – according to Jesus that means we are to love God with all our heart, mind and soul, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Pray: As you consider these things, pray and ask God to help you understand better the beauty of the salvation that is yours in Jesus. Thank him for the forgiveness of sins that you have that isn’t based on your good works but on his love for you shown in his grace and mercy. Lastly, ask him to help you see the good works that he has for you in your everyday life and to help you to walk in them instead of choosing your own way.
