Lent, Day 21: GOD'S LAVISHED GRACE

Scripture:   Ephesians 1:7-14          

Focus on the Word

God is in a process of redeeming His "own possession," and He has given to His Church His own Holy Spirit as "a pledge" to confirm His plans (Ephesians 1:14, NASB).  God is a redeeming God and in Jesus "we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses" (Ephesians 1:7).  In Jesus we understand that God's amazing grace hasn't simply been shared; it has been "Lavished on us" (Ephesians 1:8, NASB). 

 

Right now, even though our world is broken and splintered, God is working "all things after the counsel of His will," revealing that in this world God is "summing up all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth" (Ephesians 1:10-11, NASB).  

Now, because of God's love and lavished grace, we are invited to live our lives in praise of the glory of God.  We don't just live. We live with purpose and meaning, expressing the glory of God in the way we go about life.  We don't live as orphans in a huge world; we live as sons and daughters of God.  We don't simply live for what heaven may or may not be at some future date.  We live right now in the manifested glory of God who has come to us in the person of Jesus.

In Lent we draw near to God and embrace again and again that God has brought to us His very life right down in our very real world.  Amazing Grace is our mantra.  Undeserved, powerful, and awesome grace has been lavished on us.  We do well to slow down once in a while, catch our breath, and bask in the startling, staggering, and astounding amazing grace of God. As Julia Johnston said back in 1911 it is a

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,

Freely bestowed on all who believe!

Today’s Prayer

You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me. Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name.  For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.

(From Psalm 86:5 -10, NIV)