Alive!

Ephesians 2:1-10

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when 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. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 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. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Greetings, my Beloved!

I hope you are having a fabulous week! The best part is, God's grace is so sufficient, that even when we make mistakes, His blood covers a multitude of sin. It is so easy to feel the self-condemnation of your past sins and failures. Believe me, I battle this often. Especially when you are lying in bed at night, the quietness of the house settles in, and your mind begins running 90 miles a minute. Have you had nights like those? It is easy to forget that you are forgiven, or perhaps lies start swirling around your head that your sin is so great, that God can't forgive you. We have a tendency to put values on sin. To God, sin is sin. Why is it that we think lying is not as bad as murdering, or homosexuality is greater than self-righteousness. It is all sin in God's eyes, and we have all sinned. So, who are we to judge others in their sin? We have to share the hope of the living God, the God who is rich in mercy. We were all dead in sin before we came to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. There are still so many people that are lost and dead in the transgressions of their sins, and all we do is judge them. It is true. It is so easy for us to judge them. However, if they do not know Jesus, how can we as Christians expect the world to hold our same values and truths? We judged them, because they don't uphold the values and truths of Christ, but they do not know Christ like we know Christ.

1 Corinthians 5:12-13

What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”

So let us shed off our old bodies, live in the new creation under the Grace and Mercy of our God. We are God's handiwork, His master piece, created in Christ Jesus to do His good works that God has predestined for us. No longer do we have to worry about our old selves, reveling in the condemnation from the enemy. No longer do we have to worry about the sins of our unsaved friends and families, God will judge them. What we should focus on is doing God's work, giving hope to those who are dead in their own transgressions, much like we were. The hope that is only found in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!