Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
October 11, 2022
Read Ephesians 2:4-10
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! Grace, Grace, God’s Marvelous Grace!
Christ died for us so that we might receive the grace of God. All are invited to partake of this gift, but each of us must choose to willingly accept the gift.
Have you ever played the game hot potato? In this game, the players are in a circle, passing the “potato” and when the time is up, the one left holding the potato is out. As you play, you quickly pass it to the next person and think not me. I remember a friend who was next to receive the potato putter her hands in her pocket, so the potato dropped to the ground. She refused to accept that which was offered to her.
For some reason, it seems that we sometimes put our hands in our pockets when it comes to receiving God’s grace. Perhaps we are in the midst of something that makes us feel unworthy, so we turn away thinking that God couldn’t be offering the gift to us. I am too broken or too sinful.
The Good News is simple. Yes, God is offering grace to us and accepts us as we are. All are welcome at the table of the Lord. We must simply reach out and claim the gift. It can’t be thrust upon us, and no one else can accept it on our behalf. We must give our lives to Christ and through this marvelous grace, the Holy Spirit enters us and begins transforming us.
We don’t need to fix ourselves first and then accept the gift. This is not like building a resume that will make you look good to your prospective employer. We are born with all we need: We are children of God. God is patiently waiting for us to answer, and return home. The door will open for all who knock. Whether you have been trudging through the mud and running through the meadows, you may enter the house of grace.
Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. What a great gift you offer to us! Forgive us when we are slow to claim your gift. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: As a child of God, I have a home in God’s grace.
Accept Your Gift! Pastor Liz
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