Eph 2:4-10 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (nasb)
There is hope. This message should ring from the mountain tops in our life and spread like a wild fire to those we encounter each day. Paul is writing to the Ephesians to tell them there is hope in the eternal living God. Even though we were dead in our transgressions against God (Eph 2:1), he made us alive in Christ. Not just our physical body, but our spirit is alive in Christ and we are made alive together for all of eternity. Why would the God of the universe reach down to sinful depraved mankind and offer us eternal life with Him through His son? Because He loves us. God has a great love for his children, those whom He has established since before the foundation of the universe was put into place. (Eph 1:4) And He does it because of His grace. Not because we are worthy of it, or He knew we would someday choose Him. But because He is gracious and loving and chose to redeem His people for His purpose at His time.
Being the workmanship of God in Christ, we are created for good works. God prepared them beforehand so that we would walk in them. We are created in Christ, by the love and grace of God, so that we will show the surpassing riches of grace in the ages to come. All this work is done by Him and for Him. It is not a work that we are able to do on our own, and because it is His work we have no place to boast about it. Our boasting is to be in the Lord (Rom 15:17), glorifying His name to all the generations from now until eternity for what He has done for us.
Do you have hope in Christ today or are you hoping in the things of this world to satisfy you? Jesus Christ is not only our hope for salvation, but He is our hope for our peace here on earth. When trouble comes our way and we have the hope of God in us, we are able to endure whatever hardships we encounter knowing that we are chosen by God for His good purpose. He loves each one of us and cares for us. Romans 8 tells us that all things work together for good of all who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Do you believe that today? Sometimes it doesn't seem like anything good can come from the things we are going through, but when we line it up with His will, and His wisdom, and His desires for our good work, it will always end up good.
Praise be to Him today for saving us and giving us hope.
