Daily Devotional – April 24-29
April 24 – Meditating on God’s Word
This devotional series offers less content but more opportunity for you to reflect, contemplate, and pray through the short Scriptures we offer. It is an opportunity to help us slow down and enjoy time in the presence of God. It is an exercise in listening with the intent of hearing from God through His Word and by His Spirit. I pray that you will take advantage of this series by fully engaging in the process of thinking and praying through the portions of Scripture that are offered and that you will find yourselves refreshed and renewed as you learn to linger in God’s presence. Here is the passage for the week:
Ephesians 2:4-7, But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Prayer: Father, your love is overwhelming. Your love reached out to us before we could do a thing to clean ourselves up to make ourselves worthy of You. Through Your grace you saved us, you gave us new life, and seated us with Jesus on the throne so that You can keep on showing us the wealth of heaven found in Jesus. I’m so deeply grateful for Your love for me. Amen.
April 25 – Meditating on God’s Word
Ephesians 2:4, But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
In order to help us think and pray upon these words, we will use the pattern of the W.O.R.D. I will offer my example, but you will want to do this exercise for yourself.
Write out the Scripture. (As it is or in your own words. To write it, slows you down and puts the word into your hand, head, and heart.)
“In contrast to what was, because of God’s incomparable love and mercy for us,”
Observe what it is saying. (Try to answer as many of the who, what, when, where, why, and how questions)
Since this Scripture is in a larger passage, the word “but” connects us to what was said previously. Paul has just said we are all deserving of wrath! Our situation is dire. However, the reason we don’t have to fear is because God is bursting with love and mercy for us.
Relate it to your life. (Connect how this Scripture speaks into your life today.)
It’s true that my situation is dire without God’s love and mercy. I am believing in and trusting that God’s love and mercy are greater.
Do something. (Pray it. Live it. Act on it.)
“Father, I’m in awe of Your love for me. I’m humbled that Your mercy extends to me. I’m trusting in Your saving love because my situation without You is helpless and hopeless. Amen.”
April 26 – Meditating on God’s Word
Ephesians 2:5, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions
Write out the Scripture.
“made us alive with Christ even when we were eternally dead in sins”
Observe what it is saying.
God’s great love and mercy are displayed powerfully in Jesus to spiritually resurrect us back to life even when we were still dead in our sin. It couldn’t be a result of our goodness or effort because we were still dead! God took the initiative and acted first.
Relate it to your life.
Even though I still foolishly try to earn or work my way into God’s favor, it’s useless. God alone can resuscitate me to make my heart beat again.
Do something.
“Father, thank You for loving me so. Thank You for putting Your plan of redemption into action long before I could do anything. In spite of my soul’s darkness, You acted to make me alive again.”
April 27 – Meditating on God’s Word
Ephesians 2:5, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Write out the Scripture.
“It’s by grace you have been saved.”
Observe what it is saying.
What Paul has described in these two verses so far can be summed up as the definition of God’s grace. God’s love and mercy expressed as grace has come beautifully and powerfully to us through Jesus Christ to reclaim us as His own.
Relate it to your life.
I can’t save myself. My response is to receive or reject God’s grace.
Do something.
“Father, Your grace is amazing. I have nothing to offer You but my sin and brokenness. I trust in Your grace to redeem and reclaim me. Thank you Jesus. Amen.”
April 28 – Meditating on God’s Word
Ephesians 2:6, And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
Write out the Scripture.
“And God resurrected us with Christ and seated us with him in heaven’s glory in Christ Jesus.”
Observe what it is saying.
Through grace received, we experience what Jesus did. He was resurrected. We are resurrected from spiritual death to life. We are elevated to the highest place with Christ to be with Him in His heavenly rule. In some real, mysterious and spiritual way, this is my new reality. Jesus is not only with me, but I am with Him!
Relate it to your life.
I don’t understand what this all means except to trust that it’s true. Because God’s grace is so powerful, I am with Jesus in his resurrection and in His heavenly rule.
Do something.
“Jesus, I want to believe and know this Scriptural reality. Through Your Spirit, elevate my faith to trust that this is true and to fully live its implications in my daily life. Amen.”
April 29 – Meditating on God’s Word
Ephesians 2:7, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Write out the Scripture.
“He’s done all this so that in the future He might show how vast the riches of His grace are that are expressed in His kindness through Jesus.”
Observe what it is saying.
We haven’t seen anything yet! God’s grace keeps on delivering more and more of God’s spiritual wealth that has been delivered to us through His generous kindness found in Jesus. It’s the same grace that saves us but keeps pouring out heavenly blessing into the future.
Relate it to your life.
God’s kindness is relentless in the spiritual wealth it offers me through Jesus.
Do something.
“Father, thank You for showering me with Your kindness. I don’t deserve it, but it doesn’t matter, you deliver it any way. You keep flooding my life with your heavenly wealth. Thank You! Amen.”