There are days..when I truly feel I can do nothing right. There are days when I don’t feel like I just didn’t DO enough.
There are days when that TO DO list…GROWS faster than….the checks for the DONE items can be ‘checked’….
Maybe that’s why I’m so in love with the Book of Ephesians….the grace and mercy that Paul shares. Ahh…Paul, he knew that grace and mercy well, didn’t he. I mean….here’s a man who slaughtered and persecuted Christians…just for the fun of it! And all it took was for God to strike him blind for a few days and share the miracle of sight with him…when, he had it before, yet could not see the truth when it was staring him in the face!
Yep…that’s Paul…..
and here…in this book…filled with too many verses that woo me to my Father…he has the audacity to stand in front of everyone and say “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God- not by works so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2: 8-10)
do you see that? I am only saved by grace – not by works! and Paul then tells me…I can’t even get grace from me….I can’t earn it….it’s a gift.
a gift
not by works.
Here, we read it..you can’t earn it….you can’t buy it…and you can’t do anything to get it….HE gives it to you
and…does he whisper the words that lead yet again to a predestined path… by saying that God prepared my good works for me…in Christ Jesus
This Paul….this man….his words…are salve. Truly. No other religion in the world believes in a God who freely gives grace that takes reconciles…. all others have to be good enough, do enough….earn it…(is that why we, Christians….believe we HAVE to KEEP doing….because we are IN and OF the world…rather than just being in IT, but OF HIM!)?
me…I love the freedom my Father gives me…to open this precious gift.
He not only gives the gift of an eternal life with him, but a life without having to compare myself to others. If each of us has works prepared in advance…then if we are following HIM…our time will come to reach out and do the work he has for us to do. My work will not look like the work of another person. Each of us created unique…for His Glory…and through the spirit, the fruits that he will create in me…the good works he had planned for me will blossom.
“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. his purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. he came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one spirit.” (Ephesians 2:14-18)
And….he came to reconcile the Jews with the Gentiles….to bring them together….on the cross.
His son
upon the cross
this free gift
so many turn from and call a lie
so many today are persecuted across the world for saying that the Word is truth
me, I run to and fall at his feet….and would love to be the woman….washing them with my tears and hair. Not tears of sorrow, but sheer joy….and gratitude for this gift..
I’m working through Ephesians with Good Morning Girls…not working to memorize all of this, but to meditate…to bury it….to truly understand and accept the words of my Father…..because I will never do enough…but his gift…I accept with open arms!
What verses are you meditating on or memorizing this week?????
Join me andJennifer Janes, as we share our Seeds for the week. Share your verse(s) with us through linking your blog or a comment. We have no rules….no need to use our button, etc…just share and encourage others….
and if you need more inspiration: You can find it all of the time at Good Morning Girls, Women Living Well, A Holy Experience,(in)Courage, and iFellowship.
This week, my children and I are memorizing: “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not look anxiously about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” –Isaiah 41:10
I was hooked with this post from the first few lines– I could have written them! There are many days that I feel like that and I cry out to Him to help me and give me His strength and wisdom.
Lisa, I LOVE the book of Isaiah….oh, it is so rich…..with our Savior written all through it!!!!! I always enjoy reading about your week…and honestly, can’t imagine how you accomplish truly so much! YOU INSPIRE ME!!!!!!
His love, grace, and mercy take my breath away daily. I am so thankful!
They take mine away, too…when I let go and let them!!!!!!!!!!
I am reading through Acts along with Ephesians – just HAPPENED to be up next on my reading accountability with some women from church. And I read about Saul’s conversion today, but I missed that about God taking away his sight to SEE the fullness of God’s truth!
I KNOW it’s a gift and I can’t do anything to earn it….so hard to keep this in light of all my failures, still knowing and believing God is love and loves me no matter what. The Christian life isn’t easy, nor is it difficult. It isn’t confusing, nor is it always clear. But God is always with us and his grace is always sufficient and free! love your thoughts here, deep, thank you for sharing!
Lauren….confusing…difficult, clear…love the words you used to describe it. I think…I always have to remember…there is a Spiritual world all around us that we can’t see….and God’s ways are not our ways….and generally, they’re upside. Rich in our world…is owning everything your heart can desire with a ton of money in the bank…etc. Rich in God’s world….is being poor to our worldly desires, but rich in his splendor….now, that truly goes against our grain, until we find the beauty in it!!!! LOVEYA!!!!
Took me a lot of years to get that ‘not by works, but by grace’ into my head and heart.
I’m reading the #Run2Him Psalm 34 this week. While I’m not working on the memorization, I’m loving the dig to unearth what He wants me to hear & learn from Him. 
Happy Wednesday!
Several years ago I heard a great idea. Memorize the Psalm that corresponds with your age. Right now I’m working on Psalm 32. I’m more than half way through, but I turn 33 tomorrow! So, yeah, I’m a bit behind!
Sharon, that sounds like a GREAT idea! Happy Birthday (early!) And….I would be much farther behind than you are!!! I remember being 32 and 33!! Which I knew then, what you know now!
I love Ephesians! It’s one of those books that I have read over and over again, amazed at who I am “in Christ,” and comforted by grace.
I’ve been dwelling on two (three) verses so far this week, Psalm 131:2 (“I have calmed and quieted my soul like a weaned child with his mother. Like a weaned child is my soul within me.”) and Psalm 34:3-4 (“Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”) Learning to lean, to trust, to rest in the shadow of His wings…
I’m trying to focus on living and loving my vocation as a mother cheerfully …… I really struggle with this at times.
Thanks for this wonderful linkup!
Dianna, I think we all do….one reason I think Titus 2 is so important…when it states: the older women should teach the younger women how to love their husband and children….. Thank you for dropping by!
I love Ephesians 2:14 from the GMG study this week: “For He Himself is our peace.” To me it means peace between myself and God the Father through Christ, personal peace in my heart and how Christ came to bring peace between the Jews and Gentiles. I just think the beginning of that verse is so powerful! Enjoyed your thoughts for today–I’m so thankful that God’s gift of grace is free and I don’t have to earn it. I’d fail every time!
Jenn,
I’m with you….I could not earn it either….I always enjoy your comments!
I just love Ephesians! Christ chose me! Yes, I am saved by grace! I am so thankful for His love, mercy and grace. Me, a sinner, broken daily, is saved by His grace. Amazing. Truly amazing. Thank you for this post!
Joy, I am loving Ephesians! And…for Grace…Oh, my heart sings because of it! I’m a sinner, too…and his grace…the bonds he brings into our lives through him are amazing!