Send to Kindleby Robin McKinley,
Narrated by Artificial Intelligence, Eric,
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Paul wrote the Book of Ephesians to the Christians in the church of Ephesus. In chapter 2, Paul reviewed the kind of lives these people lived before they found Jesus. As the chapter progresses, He explained how easily the Lord made receiving.
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8
After Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they caused sin to enter the human race. No one since has naturally gravitated to God except for Jesus. Listen to how Paul worded the state people find themselves in before they receive the Lord.
Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. Ephesians 2:1-2
He didn’t candy-coat any of his words as he continued with this thought. It doesn’t matter if a person was considered a model citizen or the worst society has developed. Paul made the following statement, all-inclusive.
All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. Ephesians 2:3
Fortunately, those few verses we just read aren’t the end of the story. The very God whom we have sinned against gave us a way out.
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) Ephesians 2:4-5
These two verses combine the mercy of God with His grace, allowing us to be the benefactors. He doesn’t consider our merits or blame us for our faults.
God made the offer of salvation through Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection from the grave available to everyone. Not everyone, though, is willing to accept it.
Many people don’t view salvation as a free gift; instead, they feel they have to work to obtain it. Our verse for today says the way of salvation comes by God’s grace. But that can only happen “when you believe.”
When we believe, God offers it to us as a gift. What do you do with a gift? You accept it or receive it. With this gift, according to Romans 6, He freed us from the power of sin and gives us the benefit of eternal life.
But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
God made this gospel message so simple, yet people feel it needs to be more complex than that. That is one reason why the road to heaven is narrow and few people walk it. They think it is way too easy, and guess what? It is just that – easy!
Lord, by your Holy Spirit, reveal Jesus to everyone who reads this devotion. For those who already know you, give them the boldness to share this simple message with someone today.
About the Author:
Robin, with his wife Cindy, became children’s evangelists early in their ministry. They ministered to children full time for 8 years. During that time they developed several children’s stories which were told with visuals and puppets.
Robin recently turned two of those stories into children’s books. One is called “The Contest,” a book about the Fruit of the Spirit, and the other is called “Twas the Night of Christmas”. He has also authored 5 volumes of devotional books called, 3 Minutes Alone with God. Each entry is a product of his personal biblical Journaling.
These and his other writings are available on his website called Christian Perspectives at www.ramckinley.com. When you visit this site, you can sign-up for newly written devotions as they come out which will be emailed to you.
Presently Robin is the pastor of Calvary Christian Center in Pottstown, PA. He is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God. He and his wife make their home in Birdsboro, Pa. He also serves as the president of the local ministerium. He and Cindy have two married sons and four grandchildren.
