Play It Again God

Greetings in the Lord!

Today's scripture is from Ephesians 2:1-10:
"As for you, you were lifeless in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath."

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were lifeless in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 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."

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advanced for us to do."

Even while I was lost in sin, the Lord, in His great mercy, made me alive in Christ. Wow--what a gift, this thing called grace. And more than that, we have been lifted up to sit with Christ in the heavenly realms, "in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace..." It sounds to me like understanding the fullness of "grace" is a process one must go through to better comprehend His loving kindness and mercy towards us. That grace is not a 'sinner's prayer' or a deliverance as such, but rather a series, a succession of events, ordeals, and experiences in which the hand of God guided us through. Then, after we finally realize His presence in the midst of our happenings, then, we come to more fully discern the depth of His love and compassion for us. But that is only the tip of the iceberg, I believe. The reference made to the "heavenly realms" by Paul leads me to think that we won't fully know the depth of God's grace in our lives until we are able to have a more "heavenly perspective" ---when we are joined with Him again in heaven. Just how much of our lives were "touched" by the hand of God? Wouldn't you love to see a 'behind the scenes' playback from God about all the times He intervened on our behalves because of His grace and tender mercy?...I sure would ;)

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