As young Christ-followers, we were still ladened with a load of sinful desires and temptations. Well-meaning Saints attempted to help us to walk the straight and narrow road by lecturing us on the obvious sins that we struggled with, but they had no idea about the deep-seeded sins that God’s Spirit was dealing with us about in our private devotion times.
We were still slaves to sin, not knowing that God already delivered us on Calvary’s cross from the influence, the bondage, and the devastation of sin. We followed the dictates of our desires and the advice of the world, because we were not familiar with the advice God gives us in His Word (Ephesians 2:1-3).
However, over the years, God made us alive in Christ and slowly sanctified our carnality until we learned to walk in His ways and according to His plans for our life. Now, we sit with Jesus in Heavenly places (Ephesians 2:4-6). His mercies are new every single morning (Lamentation 3:22-23), and His amazing love causes Him to hold us close and never let us go (1 John 3:1-3).
God not only saves us but He also drenches us with His grace and kindness in Christ Jesus. We do not earn our salvation by our good works so that we can take the credit, but by the righteousness of Christ which He exchanges for our sinful desires. As we mature spiritually, we join Him in His efforts to reach the lost and to build His Kingdom in the earth (Ephesians 2:7-10).
We slowly learn not to take God for granted, but to constantly praise Him for saving us in spirit and soul. We also look forward to the glorification of our body when we see Jesus, because we will be like Him (1 John 3:2). We cannot judge the behavior of others who claim to be Christ-followers, because God is the one who does the redemptive and sanctifying work in their life (Ephesians 2:11).
When we study the history of God’s interaction and covenants with His people, we learn that Jesus’ shed blood brought us into a union with God and His Saints from every nation and walk in life both now and for eternity. We all have a new life in Him from the moment of our repentance and belief in Jesus’ saving work for us all (Ephesians 2:12-15).
Prayer:
Father God, thank You that Jesus’ death on the cross brought every tribe and nation from the beginning to the end of time as one, equal, and unified Body. We all share in the same Spirit and have equal access to You at any time of the day or night. We no longer aimlessly wander the earth with no clue of our eternal reward or purpose for our life (Ephesians 2:16-19).
Thank You that Jesus is building us a home in New Jerusalem that will house us all under one roof so we can enjoy eternal fellowship with You and one another. We love that Jesus is our chief cornerstone, the apostles and prophets are the foundation, and we are the building blocks that You are fitting together - stone upon stone - for a habitation for You by Your Spirit (Ephesians 2:20-22).
Thoughts for the Day:
God is a habitation for the orphans and the widows, as well as all those who put their trust in Him, and He is our refuge where we find mercy and truth. He leads us in the way that we should go, and He provides for all our needs. He determined our number of days on the earth before we were ever born, and He set a boundary around our life.
- Psalm 68:5, 89:14, 91:9, 107:7,36; Acts 17:26
