God knows what He’s talkin’ about

4 But God’s mercy is so abundant, and his love for us is so great, 5 that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience he brought us to life with Christ. It is by God’s grace that you have been saved. 6 In our union with Christ Jesus he raised us up with him to rule with him in the heavenly world. 7 He did this to demonstrate for all time to come the extraordinary greatness of his grace in the love he showed us in Christ Jesus. 8-9 For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s gift, so that no one can boast about it. 10 God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do. Ephesians 2:4-10


     Today for my devotional, this verse was the focus.  And, like how it usually goes, it fit a current situation to a T.  I know that that’s how God works, cause His timing is freaking awesome, but it still gives me the eeby jeebies when He does it.  I love it.  The part of this passage that struck me in the forehead was 4 But God’s mercy is so abundant, and his love for us is so great, 5 that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience he brought us to life with Christ. Yeah it’s a good one.
     We all have a past.  That is what makes us who we are.  I’m not proud of the choices I’ve made; big or small, they all have consequences either immediate or long range that I must deal with.  Some are very painful, and some are just enough to put me back on track.  I am no stranger to these life lessons, both the slap on the wrist kind as well as the life altering ones.  But nobody is.  Not one single person.  I think one of my pet peeves has to be those that have the “better than thou” mentality.  Sadly, those people are a dime a dozen.  Some of these people are those that have never been in church.  I can look over these individuals behavior so much easier than those who have been in a church and who know the message yet choose to not live it.  The fact that God can bring anyone back from spiritual death (don’t think you can get any deader than dead…so that’s pretty significant to me) says that He forgives it all…and that we should too.  In other words, get over it.  Move on.  We should practice that same grace He has demonstrated for us towards others.  Sadly, that doesn’t happen.
     There are too many hurtful words, hateful attitudes, and spiteful actions against other people these days.  I am the first to admit.  I have done all of this myself, and then some.  It’s something I have to continually guard myself against to keep from hurting others.  I just have to keep reminding myself that they, like myself, have been extended that same grace that I have and I am expected to walk in that same grace towards others, as well.  I have harbored some deep felt hurt and anger, and until the past few years never really understood the effects it had on me.  Truth be told, I never really cared.  Until I saw the connections between the effects it was having and the outcomes of some of my choices and thought processes.  In doing this study on grace, I am learning that, even though I have let go and forgiven for the hurt and anger, I must recognize that beyond those significant steps of forgiveness, I have to also offer grace.  In my own mind, I have begun to walk through these verses and thank God, putting the person who has offended me in this passage, while I pray for them.  Easy?  Heck no.  Especially when those who do the hurting do so intentionally.  Especially in such a way to cause extreme pain and chaos, in who’s lives they touch.  But God sent His son to die for those who make me mad, too.  Even on the days they least deserve it, they truly do.  Because even in the worst of the worst parts of my life; in the worst of my spiritual death, through His abundant mercy and  love so great, I no longer have to stay in that place of darkness.  And I can pray that those who hurt me don’t either.    

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