EphesiansSample

Okay, take a deep breath. There’s a lot to unpack here, but we’re in this together! Paul ended the last chapter, showing us how the ultimate example of God’s power was the resurrection of Jesus. Now, Paul is going to show us how Jesus’ resurrection power affects us and our day-to-day lives.

There is so much good news packed into this little passage. First, you are ALIVE! Although you were once dead, through the power of the resurrection, you are alive. Obviously, we were living breathing people before the power of Jesus, so what does this death actually mean? The theologian A.S. Wood put it like this: “The most vital part of man’s personality – the spirit – is dead to the most important factor in life – God”. But through Jesus, we are now awake and alive and able to see the work God is doing through us and in our world.

Paul also brings up our very real enemy in this passage – the devil. I know the mention of the enemy can bring up a lot of thoughts and questions and emotions, as it does for me too. But the biggest lie the enemy wants to tell us is that he isn’t a big deal. That he is just a little guy with a pitchfork and horns that Hollywood has made up to sell scary movies. But God’s Word is very clear, we have a very real enemy who has very real influence in the world around us.

Thank God the passage doesn’t end there! Through Jesus’ resurrection, we are no longer bound to the enemy’s lies and influence. We have been bought back with Jesus’ love and sacrifice.

And finally, the greatest news of all. It’s only by God’s grace that we have been saved. This means that there’s not a single thing you and I can do to earn or take away our salvation. It doesn’t matter how many mornings we do (or don’t do) our daily devotional, how many Sundays we serve at church, how many lies we tell, or how far we drift from God. We cannot do a single thing to earn or lose our salvation. It’s only through God’s amazing, all-powerful, merciful love. And that is some amazing news!

Prayer Points

• Thank God for bringing you back to spiritual life! Praise Him for the sacrifice He made through Jesus to bring you back to Him.
• Ask God for strength and discernment in the very real spiritual battle happening around you. Ask Him to take away any spirit of fear towards the powers of darkness around us, instead giving us a power of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Tim. 1:7)
• Thank God for His grace, and ask Him to help remind you that nothing you do or don’t do can earn your salvation.