Coming to the Still Waters

Today's verses are Ephesians 2:4-7, which read,   But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved,) and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Paul again gives us another long sentence to dissect.  Yesterday we covered what we were but today Paul gives us what we have become not because of us but because of God.  We were dead to God and then comes those very important words. Our first phrase is, "But God,.."   The transformation in our lives is not of us but of God.  It is because of God's actions before we reacted to His actions.  God took the initiative to our salvation. God's action comes in mercy and love.  We will receive s...

Today's verses are Ephesians 2:1-3, which read,   v.1, 2 - And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, and which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Paul has completed talking about his prayers for the Christians in the Ephesus church.  He is now going to tell them or remind them of what they used to be.  He will follow it up tomorrow with what they are now.  Let's go through the phrases to understand this transformation better.   "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,..." You were already dead before your trespasses and sin because you and I have a sin nature given to us through the sin nature of Adam and Eve.  We are playing out that sinful nature through our trespasses and sins and we are dead to God at this point.  The word "dead" is a strong word but Paul uses it to demonstrate our...

Today's verses are Ephesians 1:18-23, which read,   v.18-19a - I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. Paul is continuing his prayer for the Christians in the church in Ephesus.  He started with the prayer asking for their wisdom, that is knowledge applied, and revelation, that is spoken witness, to increase through the knowledge of God. Now Paul prays that they would know the hope of God's calling, the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and the surpassing greatness of His power toward those who believe.  He is praying that they will know in their hearts the assurance of God's call on their lives; he is praying that they will know in their hearts the assurance of a heavenly home prepared and sealed by God; and he is praying that they will k...