A Life Worthy

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us…(Ephesians 1:8)

Lavish

To give freely, to bestow generously upon, to shower with

God has not been miserly with his grace, Beloved.

He has not been frugal.

He has lavished.

When the Lord of the Universe saw your sin, he didn’t hand you a spiritual wet wipe.

He bathed you.

Grace is, quite possibly, the most costly thing in all of creation, yet God showers us with it. He doesn’t measure it out and give us and give us a jarful, saying “Use it sparingly. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.”

He pours it over us in endless waves.

We determine the value of something by what someone is willing to pay to obtain it.

So, what is your value to God?

Exactly

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

In him we have redemption through his blood…(Ephesians 1:7)

When I was a kid, years before I came to Christ, I briefly attended a local church’s youth group. I remember singing this song:

I’ve been redeemed, by the blood of the Lamb.

I’ve been redeemed, by the blood of the Lamb.

I’ve been redeemed, by the blood of the Lamb, filled with the Holy Ghost I am.

All my sins are washed away, I’ve been redeemed.

There was a second verse…had something to do with roller skates. The point is, I had no idea what that song was talking about at the time, but the words and the silly tune stuck in my head.

Today I understand, at least a little.

There’s a pawn shop a mile or so from my house. Today, someone will go there and trade a prized possession for a little cash. The cash will soon be spent, the pleasure it bought dissipated, and the prized possession will be locked away, out of reach. The only hope is that Someone will come and pay the price to redeem that which is so precious, and which was so foolishly traded away.

You know what I like about you Beloved? I don’t have to explain my analogies.

Happy Tuesday

In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will–to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us…(Ephesians 1:6).

Freely

Given

No strings, no fine print, no Columbo-style,”Uh, just one little thing.”

So how is it that we still, day after day, think we somehow have to earn this?

Are we not the silliest of creatures?

The feast is before you, Beloved. Dig in.

Happy Friday.

In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will  (Ephesians 1:5).

Such a huge little phrase

Guess what? God didn’t choose you grudgingly.

He didn’t say to himself, “Manoman, what a mess this kid’s made of things. I guess I’d better take them on board…sheesh, what a pain…fine, you’re saved. Now get out of my hair!”

He knew from the beginning that he wanted you. It gives him pleasure to call you his own. Thinking of you makes him smile.

Beloved, you make the Lord of the Universe smile.

Chew on that today.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

For he (God) chose us in him (Jesus) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight (Ephesians 1:4).

You are the chosen one.

Well, maybe not the chosen one, but certainly a chosen one.

Before he made the world, God had you in mind.  

Yeah, you.

He knew who you would be, how you would be.  He saw your “We are the Champions” moments, your happy times,

your foolish choices

your many sins

your epic, seemingly endless failures.

And he loved you.

And he chose you.

Wow.

Consider this: God is not bound by time, right?  Past, present, future—it’s all kind of now to him.  So, when he looks at you he sees you not only as you are, but as you will be.

Holy

Blameless

Complete

His

Now, if only you could learn to see yourself as he sees you, hmm?

Happy Monday, Beloved.