Daily Worship

Grace

November 16, 2015 0 0

Ephesians 2:1-10

Made Alive in Christ

2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to livewhen you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us,God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christand seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 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.

Sometimes, Lord we use that word ‘but’ as a put-down:
‘But’ expresses all our reservations and hesitations. 
It was great but for that one wee thing, 
she’s fine but you know what she can be like,
but you wouldn’t want too much of him!
And you know how it’s the negative we often hold on to.
Forgive us Lord, when we are critical of others. 
Meet us, we pray, with your Grace which transforms the way we see not only our sisters and brothers but ourselves as well.

Your ‘but’ Lord turns everything to the good. 
It opens up our lives to the immeasurable riches of your grace,
to the best that is yet to come, to the warm embrace of your compassion, to your ‘yes’ to all your children.
Your ‘but’ invites us to share in the new life of the Risen Lord and rescues us from all that would make us less. Your ‘but’ chases the dark away and brings us to the light of a new day of opportunity. 

For your Grace, breaking into our lives and making a difference for good, we give you thanks O God. Amen.
 

prisonersweek.org.uk