October 1, 2015 BUT GOD
Ephesians 2:4-5: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ; (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…”
Ephesians 2:10: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
I sometime think that we (I) still don’t get it. Get what? The fact that we are IN Christ and He is IN us! The book of Ephesians is filled replete with the phrases “in Him” and “in Christ” and apparently, Paul was over-whelmed with magnitude of the reality of being IN Christ. Being “in Him” is not theory, or a truth reserved for heaven, but is a truth that is the biggest game changer ever for this present life. It is not a great comparison; but it is like being in a strange place that it is totally dark, and then suddenly, the lights come on and we can see. Before we came to be “in Him”, we were in total darkness and we were spiritually dead with no hope of being made alive. (Being “spiritually” dead also had tremendous negative ramifications on our physical lives as well.) Just as Christ was raised from the dead, so were we. Although it may be impossible, or at least difficult for our finite minds to comprehend; it’s an awesome thought to think that our life-our body, soul and spirit-is a result of His workmanship-God actually designed and created each of us in a unique way! Somehow, someway, we were created in Christ Jesus, AND another awesome fact is that even before we were created, God prepared “good works” for us to do! God had certain “good works” He ordained, and He created each of us to carry out the works He wanted done- there are “works” to be done that have our name on them. God did not “need” us as He can do whatever He pleases; BUT because He loves us, He lets us be a part of what He is doing on planet earth. God desires a partnership with us; a partnership where He initiates prepares and enables us to be able partners who can do business in His name. As we just begin to see what God has done and as we get a taste of what His plans are for us, we can only say as Paul said; God is rich in mercy! Just an elemental understanding of what God has done and what He is still doing because we are in Christ, ushers in a totally new perspective on life. If God is our Father, if we are in Christ, if Christ is in us, if we are the workmanship of God, if He has plans and purpose for our life, and if He is rich in mercy to us-then what can defeat us, derail us, depress us, discourage us, divide us, and rob us of joy? Yes, life is not always easy-but in the midst of trials and difficulties, God is the same and His love and His plans for us remains the same and He is still faithful-using us for His glory. Sometimes the “works” that He has for us involves demonstrating His life in difficult situations-being salt and life. Let us ask God to give us greater revelation and understanding of what it means to be “in Him.”
Ephesians 1:18-19b: “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe;”
Blessings,
Buddy
Ephesians 2:4-5: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ; (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…”
Ephesians 2:10: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
I sometime think that we (I) still don’t get it. Get what? The fact that we are IN Christ and He is IN us! The book of Ephesians is filled replete with the phrases “in Him” and “in Christ” and apparently, Paul was over-whelmed with magnitude of the reality of being IN Christ. Being “in Him” is not theory, or a truth reserved for heaven, but is a truth that is the biggest game changer ever for this present life. It is not a great comparison; but it is like being in a strange place that it is totally dark, and then suddenly, the lights come on and we can see. Before we came to be “in Him”, we were in total darkness and we were spiritually dead with no hope of being made alive. (Being “spiritually” dead also had tremendous negative ramifications on our physical lives as well.) Just as Christ was raised from the dead, so were we. Although it may be impossible, or at least difficult for our finite minds to comprehend; it’s an awesome thought to think that our life-our body, soul and spirit-is a result of His workmanship-God actually designed and created each of us in a unique way! Somehow, someway, we were created in Christ Jesus, AND another awesome fact is that even before we were created, God prepared “good works” for us to do! God had certain “good works” He ordained, and He created each of us to carry out the works He wanted done- there are “works” to be done that have our name on them. God did not “need” us as He can do whatever He pleases; BUT because He loves us, He lets us be a part of what He is doing on planet earth. God desires a partnership with us; a partnership where He initiates prepares and enables us to be able partners who can do business in His name. As we just begin to see what God has done and as we get a taste of what His plans are for us, we can only say as Paul said; God is rich in mercy! Just an elemental understanding of what God has done and what He is still doing because we are in Christ, ushers in a totally new perspective on life. If God is our Father, if we are in Christ, if Christ is in us, if we are the workmanship of God, if He has plans and purpose for our life, and if He is rich in mercy to us-then what can defeat us, derail us, depress us, discourage us, divide us, and rob us of joy? Yes, life is not always easy-but in the midst of trials and difficulties, God is the same and His love and His plans for us remains the same and He is still faithful-using us for His glory. Sometimes the “works” that He has for us involves demonstrating His life in difficult situations-being salt and life. Let us ask God to give us greater revelation and understanding of what it means to be “in Him.”
Ephesians 1:18-19b: “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe;”
Blessings,
Buddy
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