40 Days of GRACE - 17
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days of GRACE
Day 17 | MERCY, LOVE, AND GRACE
40 Days of GRACE
Day 17 | MERCY, LOVE, AND GRACE
MERCY, LOVE, AND GRACE
Ephesians 2:4-5
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).”
When reading this verse, I first notice those two words at the beginning: “But God.” I love those two words, and they remind me that often, JUST in the nick of time, our Big Mighty God shows up and leads, guides, protects, or in some other way, demonstrates His love for us.
I also like asking people occasionally, “What comes to your mind when you think about God?” Or I might ask, “How would you describe God?”
The answers are often all over the map but talk long enough and you’ll likely hear “LOVE” mentioned and perhaps “MERCY.” Some might even answer “GRACE.”
In today’s verse, the author, the Apostle Paul, assures the Ephesians that God – his God and their God – is RICH in mercy and LOVE.
Consider that not only is God RICH in mercy and great LOVE, but that He focuses that love on YOU and ME and, indeed, the whole world. “God so loved the world…”
Answer this question quickly and honestly: Do you sometimes wonder if God loves you?
I wouldn’t be surprised if you did wonder… at least every now and then, or at least in times past. And that’s often because we think WE know best about nearly everything in our lives when God knows best about EVERYTHING.
What Paul adds at the end of this verse is classic: “By grace, you have been saved.” Consider that God did not HAVE to send His Son. He did not HAVE to provide salvation. But for some reason God LOVES us, His creation, mankind. And He loves us SO much that He gives us a GIFT we couldn’t earn and don’t deserve… forgiveness of sin, everlasting life AND a relationship with God through His Son. That’s Amazing Grace.
Prayer: Thank You, Heavenly Father, for the GRACE you shed on everyone everywhere. Amen.
Ephesians 2:4-5
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).”
When reading this verse, I first notice those two words at the beginning: “But God.” I love those two words, and they remind me that often, JUST in the nick of time, our Big Mighty God shows up and leads, guides, protects, or in some other way, demonstrates His love for us.
I also like asking people occasionally, “What comes to your mind when you think about God?” Or I might ask, “How would you describe God?”
The answers are often all over the map but talk long enough and you’ll likely hear “LOVE” mentioned and perhaps “MERCY.” Some might even answer “GRACE.”
In today’s verse, the author, the Apostle Paul, assures the Ephesians that God – his God and their God – is RICH in mercy and LOVE.
Consider that not only is God RICH in mercy and great LOVE, but that He focuses that love on YOU and ME and, indeed, the whole world. “God so loved the world…”
Answer this question quickly and honestly: Do you sometimes wonder if God loves you?
I wouldn’t be surprised if you did wonder… at least every now and then, or at least in times past. And that’s often because we think WE know best about nearly everything in our lives when God knows best about EVERYTHING.
What Paul adds at the end of this verse is classic: “By grace, you have been saved.” Consider that God did not HAVE to send His Son. He did not HAVE to provide salvation. But for some reason God LOVES us, His creation, mankind. And He loves us SO much that He gives us a GIFT we couldn’t earn and don’t deserve… forgiveness of sin, everlasting life AND a relationship with God through His Son. That’s Amazing Grace.
Prayer: Thank You, Heavenly Father, for the GRACE you shed on everyone everywhere. Amen.
Posted in GRACE