Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
June 27, 2024
Ephesians 2:1-10
1 At one time you were like a dead person because of the things you did wrong and your offenses against God. 2 You used to live like people of this world. You followed the rule of a destructive spiritual power. This is the spirit of disobedience to God’s will that is now at work in persons whose lives are characterized by disobedience. 3 At one time you were like those persons. All of you used to do whatever felt good and whatever you thought you wanted so that you were children headed for punishment just like everyone else. 4 - 5 However, God is rich in mercy. He brought us to life with Christ while we were dead as a result of those things that we did wrong. He did this because of the great love that he has for us. You are saved by God’s grace! 6 And God raised us up and seated us in the heavens with Christ Jesus. 7 God did this to show future generations the greatness of his grace by the goodness that God has shown us in Christ Jesus. 8 You are saved by God’s grace because of your faith. This salvation is God’s gift. It’s not something you possessed. 9 It’s not something you did that you can be proud of. 10 Instead, we are God’s accomplishment, created in Christ Jesus to do good things. God planned for these good things to be the way that we live our lives.
Good Morning! We are saved by God’s grace!
At the past two United Methodist Annual Conferences, we have begun our gathering by singing a rousing rendition of Charles Wesley’s empowering words, “And Are We Yet Alive?”
1 And are we yet alive, And see each other's face?
Glory and praise to Jesus give For His redeeming grace.
2 Preserved by power divine To full salvation here,
Again in Jesus' praise we join, And in His sight appear.
Without God’s power and grace, we would remain in darkness among the walking dead: those who do not know Christ. Due to our human frailty, we cannot join the eternal living without God—God the Father who nurtures us, God the Christ who came to show us the way and die for our sins, and God the Holy Spirit who works as our advocate while residing within us.
Glory and praise to Jesus give for His redeeming grace.
Praise God for bestowing us with the gift of salvation.
Creator God, Thank you for this beautiful gift of life. We are not worthy, but you chose to save us anyway. We love you, Lord, and we lift our voices in praise of you! In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Through Christ, we are made truly alive.
To God be the Glory! Pastor Liz
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