Daily Devotional for Thursday 12th September
Loved
This passage is a beautiful reflection on the transformation that occurs when we give our lives to Christ. Before, when we were focused on the world and not following Christ, we were ‘dead’ in our ‘transgressions and sins’ (v1). And now we are ‘alive in Christ’ (v5) and ‘raised…up with Christ and seated…with him in the heavenly realms’ (v.6).
Paul makes sure we don’t start thinking and boasting that this was because of anything we have done. Our salvation is a gift from God. It’s not to do with how good we make ourselves, how hard we try and strive, or by anything else we do. It’s through grace.
That doesn’t mean that we don’t have a responsibility to try and avoid sin, resist temptation and do the works that He has created us to do (v.10). But we should never get to the point where we believe that our works have anything to do with our salvation. God loved us first. God saved us by grace. And the knowledge of that is what helps us to want to live His way, to love others as He loves them, and to do the things He has prepared for us to do.
The final verse in this passage shows that our identity comes first, and our purpose comes second. Sometimes we can become very legalistic and works-driven, trying to earn God’s love and grace. But this is the wrong view of it! We start with the fact that we’re loved, just as we are, and that God has given us the gift of salvation through His wonderful grace. Paul says we are ‘God’s handiwork’. We are created by Him, loved by Him, and special to Him. Then Paul moves on to our purpose - ‘to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do’. Whenever we’re tempted to think that all God wants from us is works, or that it’s our works that make us good enough for God, let’s remember this verse. We start with love…God’s love for you and me.
Time to reflect...
• Take some time to reflect on your life before Christ, and your life now. If you’ve never given your life to Christ, consider whether you would like to do so now. You can say the following prayer, and then come and chat to one of the team at St John’s!
Lord Jesus, I need you. Thank you for dying on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins. I ask forgiveness for my sins and receive you as my Savior and Lord. Thank you for giving me the gift of eternal life. Amen.
• Have you ever thought that you needed to earn God’s love and grace? Have you noticed threads of legalism woven into your life at any point?
Pause to pray…
Thank God for His love for you. Ask Him to help you be rooted in your identity in Him, and that your works for His kingdom would come out of the place of knowing that you are already loved, saved, and His handiwork. Pray that He would show you opportunities to share that love with others today, either by telling them about Jesus or in practical ways.
