Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
November 18, 2023
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. God’s grace saves us.
In Jeremiah 29, we read, 11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. God created us to serve.
God did not create us as some random beings to wander in darkness. God created us with a purpose for our lives. God created us to serve. When we, God’s children, had strayed so far from the path that it was no longer in sight, God sent His only Son, Jesus, to come and show us the way. God loves us and wants us to join together in a relationship.
By God’s infinite grace, we are saved. Jesus bore all our sins so that we might have eternal life. His dying allows us to die from our earthly, sinful ways and be reborn in Christ. When Jesus ascended to heaven, he promised an advocate to help us in our journey. In our baptism (rebirth), we are blessed with the Holy Spirit, who works to help us navigate the mucky waters as we travel toward God’s glory. Hallelujah!
Creator God, Thank you for loving us. We are distracted by all that glitters. By Your grace, the Holy Spirit works to keep us on our path. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Thought for the day: Through the Holy Spirit, God is always at work in us.
Serve as you are called! Pastor Liz
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