And You He Made Alive

VERSE OF THE DAY:  ~ Ephesians 2:1-7 “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,  in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,  among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

Again we see the prevalent theme throughout the New Testament, that we were dead and now through Christ we are made alive. In Adam we were dead, in Christ we are alive. This describes the curse of death that was released upon mankind in the garden and tells us that through one’s faith in Christ the curse has been reversed. We who have accepted this truth by faith no longer walk in the ways of this world, which are ruled by the prince of darkness doing whatever seemed or felt right even though contrary to the kingdom of God. It is important to make this connection in our thinking that the prince of this world is the spirit at work in those who are disobedient to Gods word. This is no small thing. But then we must recognize that through Christ we can quickly move on and leave that all behind. Why?

Because once we receive Christ we are made alive together with Him! This act of grace that comes through faith in His name, places us in a new position. God has raised us up, and we now sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus throughout the ages. This signifies eternity but it also signifies each generation and each era to come throughout history. The term “in the ages to come” includes every Christian throughout time until Christ returns. Therefore, qualifying us today for the same exceeding riches of His grace and kindness that the apostles and believers enjoyed at the time Paul wrote this epistle.

PRAYER: “Thank You Lord for saving us from the darkness of this world and from the life of bondage to sin, sickness and death. Thank You Jesus for calling us into Your kingdom of life and light by raising us up with You by the power of Your resurrection. I thank You that now through the Spirit of life in Christ, I am free from the law of sin and death. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

VERSE FOR FEARLESS LIVING!  ~ Psalm 47:1-2 “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in times of trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, even though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;”