Seven Pounds (Ephesians 2)
Ephesians 2.4-5 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) [nkjv]I recently watched the movie Seven Pounds. Will Smith plays a mysterious man who calls himself Ben and who spends all his time looking for strangers who need help, people dealing with illnesses, or in financial troubles or caught in abusive relationships. As selfless as that sounds, he has a personal reason for helping these people (don't read on if you intend to see the movie!)
Ben is trying to atone for his past. One night, in a moment of distraction, he caused a car accident which took the lives of seven people, including his own fiancee. Burdened by the guilt of this night, he goes to great lengths to find seven deserving people and help them, even if it costs him everything.
This film could have had a very different ending had Ben read Ephesians. We have all sinned. If God hadn't intervened we would been doomed to carry the guilt of our failures with us all through life. Yet God, so rich in mercy, because of His great love for us, even when we were lost in sin, made a way for us through His Son Jesus.
God offers to all of us His gift of grace, but we need to accept it. Like Ben, so many of us acknowledge our failures, and even realise just how undeserving we are. But the real tragedy is that many stop there. Instead of surrendering to God and receiving His gift of grace by faith, many try in their own strength to deal with the guilt, the shame and the hurt.
Some, like Ben, try to earn their redemption through good deeds rather than receive it by faith. At the end of it all, the peace that we are so desperately looking for, is only found in Jesus.
If we are willing to accept it.
7 comments:
Ephesians 2:7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
...kinda cool thinking about the bigness of eternity - one day God will be sitting back "in a future age" going 'hey, you want an example of my goodness, do you?? well, remember that time way back, when I had that little project going - the one called Earth?...
Ephesian 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
it's a popular verse I know, but, I just love the word workmanship... He didn't just create us, but like an artist or craftsman He takes pride in what He created. He has made something of beauty which He loves.
...which God prepared beforehand....
I love it! the fact that everything we do God has prepared beforehand! We just need to walk in them. Praise God
Verse 14-18: For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility... He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
And also verse 22: And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
I missed yesterday due to Internet problems so have taken the liberty of including my reflection here.
Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
This is truly a wonderful basis on which to believe and live a complete life. Through the Grace and sacrifice of Jesus we are to be forgiven our sins; we have the chance to change and be saved because of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:1-3 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
We are no different from all mankind in that we have sinned and pursued the earthly desires that satisfy the pleasures of the body and mind. Our actions and thoughts are turned towards greed and lust looking out only for our own needs and comforts. We had no control over our emotions as we behaved in accordance with the values of this world. We turned against our Creator and followed our own desires rather than living a life in accordance with His values and plans for us.
However we have been saved from the death of that life by the gift of salvation that is offered by accepting Jesus into our lives. We have been made alive through Christ – not only to live a righteous life in this world but given eternal life. Jesus has provided the means by which we can overcome the sins of our past through his forgiveness and sacrifice.
7He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus. (AMP)
Eph 2:8 "God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God." (NLT)
Here once again we're reminded that grace comes totally free. There is no way we can buy it - we just need to accept it. Just to think that there's nothing we can possibly do to earn it. It comes free of charge and it's there for everyone.
It puts us all on the same playing field doesn't it! At times we might think we're on a different level to some of those around us. We might even think we deserve God's grace more than some of those around us - but that just isn't true. He loves us all equally and that's why grace is the way He made it. To release us from the pressure of battling for it!
All we need to do is hold out our hands and accept it. So simple, so amazing and oh so real!!
Post a Comment