~I am no great scholar of the Word. Simply a servant of Jesus. Just a momma, reading some Word and sharing my thoughts with other mommas. My prayer is that it somehow helps you get through another day. I pray you are blessed. ~
Its a rainy, cold, ugly day. My coffee tastes weird, and my oatmeal just isn't cutting it.
Ever have one of those mornings?
Its 8:32 am and the boys are still asleep, Ill pay for letting them sleep in tonight. But the silence is truly golden.
These mornings are rare. So when they do happen I try to sneak in some extra Word! Lately, God has guided me to the book of Ephesians. It was a rabbit trail really, that started with a Pinterest search, War Binder, that led me to The Armor of God in Ephesians. Its only 6 chapters long. My thought was that even I could knock this out in a couple days...or so I thought.
Today is day 2, and I have made it to Ephesians 2: 8-10, I think its safe to say that its going to take me more than "a couple days".
I landed on this passage and sat there. As I began to journal it down, it began to come to life for me.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
copied from www.biblegateway.com
I think its interesting to read passages in different translations.
In the verses leading up to these, Paul makes it very clear that we "were dead in our transgressions and sins" and deserving of nothing but "wrath". He definitely doesn't sugar coat it.
And really, I couldn't agree more.
But God's grace. We have no claim to grace and definitely don't deserve it, but He can see past what we deserve and if we accept it, through faith, He gives us what we need. Salvation. The eternal gift that keeps on giving. There is no price to pay for it, He did that already cause Hes incredibly generous like that.
I love how the NLT just calls it out in verse 9, "Salvation is not a reward". Salvation is Gods mercy on us, our second chance so to speak. Our second chance because lets face it, if it were by our own works, no one ... no one would be worthy of such a gift from God. NO ONE
You wanna know my favorite part of this passage?
I am HIS workmanship.
I am HIS handiwork.
I am HIS masterpiece.
Me.
He knew.
He knew I would have the chance to screw up, and He knew that when given that chance, I would take it. And still yet, while forming me and knowing this information, He was ordaining me, He was preparing me, and He was planning for what I could become, if by faith I chose to. He knew the works He was equipping me for, if I chose to follow Him and accept His salvation. Its a choice. He doesn't force himself on us. Hes such a gentleman like that. But if we choose to accept salvation we are covered daily by His grace and mercy.
Daily.
Daily I need that grace.
Daily I need that mercy.
There's a quote, not sure by who, but it says "Grace is when God gives us what we don't deserve. Mercy is when God doesn't give us what we do deserve."
God, Thank You! I am so undeserving and unqualified to be your servant. But I am so thankful that you can see past that. Thank you for daily giving me the chance to serve your kingdom. Thank you for letting me be a small part of Your big picture. Your daily grace and mercy are invaluable. God, I am so humbled to be Your handiwork, Your workmanship, Your masterpiece. Lord I submit to the path you have ordained before me. Lord I ask for the discernment to fulfill that path with honor and dignity.
I thank you for this moment to spend in Your word.
Amen