1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,

2 in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience.

3 All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.

— Ephesians 2:1-3

14 Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil,

15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

— Hebrews 2:14-15

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 our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!

6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.

7 in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

— Ephesians 2:4-7

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

Humans live traumatized by fear of the physical death that awaits us all. But there is good news – God sent His Son, our Savior, to defeat sin, overcome death, and offer us eternal hope. Though believers still struggle, the indwelling Holy Spirit exposes lingering sin within us and infuses us with transforming new life through conviction, repentance, and joyful obedience. Without the Lord, we would have remained like dead bones scattered in a dark valley. However, when we seek Him, God brings His life to everything that is dead within us.

When God focuses our attention on His greatness, He enables us to experience the very purpose for which we were created. For all eternity, God’s children will unite in untainted praise of our Savior, Shepherd, and Lord. Gratitude for God’s life-giving power in our lives motivates us to know Him and represent Him to the world. God calls every believer to share the life-giving gospel in a sin-deadened world for His glory which matters more than the spiritual benefits we enjoy. While we relish God’s gracious blessings, let’s give all the glory to Him!