DEVOTION – DAY 401

Ephesians 2:3-5 “Alive With Christ”

Ephesians 2:3-5 “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.”

The Bible teaches us that everyone is sinful. The Bible tells us that everyone is morally bankrupt and spiritually dead. This is evident all around us because we see people are naturally selfish. People break traffic rules because it suits them to do so. We are greedy and eat more than is good for us. We allow our eyes to covet for things we do not have whether it is a new car, or a new coat, or a new or someone’s body. We think highly of ourselves and look down on others who may be slower mentally or physically. This is what the Bible calls “gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts.” 

That is why we are all guilty and deserving of God’s wrath for our sins. But because of God’s great love and mercy for us, instead of punishing us for our sins, He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins. He took our place on the cross. Those who call on Him as their Lord and Savior, will be saved. The Bible tells us that those who do that are “made alive with Christ.” Once, they were dead in their sins, they are now spiritually alive – this is the grace and mercy of God. 

A man was a drug addict. To feed his addiction, he used up all his savings. His performance at work also suffered and he lost his job. Desperate for money, he became a petty thief. His family was at a lost as to what to do with him. In the end, they took him to a drug rehabilitation center run by Christians. This addict tried to run away but his family found him and took him back to the center. It was at the center that he heard the gospel message. He heard about Jesus. He also had to follow the program of rehabilitation set out for him. It was hard and he cried out to the Lord for help. He surrendered himself and his addiction to the Lord. Months later, he was allowed to leave the center to go home because he was free from his addiction. Today, he has a new job and a new life in Christ. With God’s help, he continues to resist going back to his old life of addiction to drugs.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for your grace, mercy and love for us. Thank you for saving us from the judgment for our sins. Please help us to live lives worthy of your love and mercy. Help us to help others by sharing with them the gospel message. We humbly pray in the holy name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

  1. What were you like as a person before you became a Christian? Share.
  2. What caused you to become a Christian?
  3. What changes have you and others seen in you since you have become a Christian? Share.
  4. Who can you share the gospel with so that they too can have a new life in Christ?