Reading Plan:  

Ephesians 2:1-10  

Not By Works 

Author: Holden Hunt  

“But because of his great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions.” Ephesians 2:4-5  

Hello readers! I want to begin this week being a little vulnerable. I have internally wrestled with shameful thoughts, feelings, and beliefs for years, but the verses we’re reading today -  and more specifically the God who they describe - have changed everything about me and my story. We’ll dive more into this later, but for now, let’s move back to you.  

 Have you ever found yourself not believing that God Himself loves you? Before we continue, know that I ask this question genuinely. Not to shame or condemn you, but to create some space right now for you to be honest with yourself and with God as you answer. Have you ever wondered, “God, how in the world could you love somebody like me?” If you’re not fully comfortable with answering just yet, let my answer free you up. My answer to that question is a resounding YES. Often. I even work at a church, and I struggle to always believe that God can actually love me with all my imperfections. I encourage you to take a minute or two right now to answer those questions before you continue reading.  

From the time I was about 12 years old until I was 21, I lived with an underlying belief that my relationship with God depended on my behavior and more specifically my goodness. I believed that every time I sinned that I needed to make up for it by doing double the amount of good to cancel out the debt I owed due to my sin. I also thought that if I apologized to God an unnecessary number of times and felt really bad about my sin, then God would forgive me and love me again. I thought it was a numbers game and I had to make my good outweigh my bad. I thought that God would be mad at me or that He wouldn’t love me again until I did those things. Can you relate to that? This was my life for years and it was EXHAUSTING.  

This constant way of life where I was trying to earn my salvation ended when I had a panic attack due to a few bad decisions that I had made that put me in a dark place mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Being in that place led me to fear and the belief that I had lost my salvation. No joke, I believed that!  

It was at that moment that I realized the difference between my beliefs and the truth in today’s scriptures. I called a friend in utter panic, and through my tears, I told them what was going through my head. That person calmly explained the good news of the Gospel to me, which is what is described in today’s scriptures. I can still picture that moment clearly because I’ve never been the same since. At that moment, I began to believe the words that we’re reading today.  

No matter where you are in your relationship with Jesus today, let me tell you that because of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, you never have to question whether or not you are loved by God. If you haven’t questioned that yet, follow Jesus long enough and you probably will. And if you do, I hope you remember the truth of this scripture.  

God’s love for you is always full. It’s never changing because the work that proved God’s love for us is one that death, hell, and Satan himself cannot undo. It's the finished work of Jesus’ life, His undeserving death on the cross where He paid for the wages of our sin, and His resurrection from the grave three days later proved once and for all that God will let nothing separate you from Him. He loves you with a constant, never changing, and overflowing love proved through His son Jesus.  

Reflection :

• In this current moment, do you find it difficult to believe that you are loved by your perfect Heavenly Father?  
• If you find that difficult today, take some time to praise God for His love. If you do find it difficult to believe, take some time to write down or say what is difficult, and then sit and consider why that’s difficult for you today.  
• Call To Action : If God’s love for you is difficult to believe today, reach out to a friend who also follows Jesus and tell them that it’s difficult and tell them why. I know that this can be daunting to admit, but being honest allows those around us, and the Holy Spirit, to love us and help us with what is going on in our hearts and minds. 
• Meditation : No matter what your answers are to the previously asked questions, I highly encourage you to listen to the song “Blown Away” by Hillsong United. Meditate on the words of the song. I don’t think I’ve heard a better description of God's love for us. I pray this song reminds you of God’s love and strengthens you to believe that more today.  

Family Application: Jesus made us alive.  

Author: Cooper Herrington

• Have you ever heard someone say Jesus made us alive? It might sound a little strange but it is true. Before we had a relationship with Jesus, we were dead in our sins but when we started following Jesus, we were no longer dead to our sins. We did not follow our ways but instead, we were alive in Jesus and followed His ways.  
  
• Jesus made us alive when He died on a cross for us and then He came back to life three days later. When you hear that Jesus died for you and came back to life what does it make you think about? How does that truth make you feel? What does that truth make you want to do? 
  
• Take time as a family to start making room in your life and calendar to respond to Jesus daily. This can look a lot of different ways which is okay because God made all of our families different. Start to build a culture of response in your family. This starts with you as leaders of your family. Make a practice of sharing what you saw God do in your day with your family. This will invite your family to do the same over time.  
  
• Prayer: God, You are our Rescuer! Thank You for setting me free from sin. God, help me tell the world the best news ever. Amen.