[Together as a She Reads Truth community, we are reading through Ephesians. Sign up for the reading plan here!]
We were – each one of us – headed in one direction. Paul describes the natural state of every human being, Jew or Gentile, slave or free: We were “children of wrath” (v. 3), in active rebellion against God. We were subject to the evil rule of Satan, the “prince of power” (v. 2), completely incapable of changing our own state; in rebellion against God and exposed to His just anger.
Like I said: hopeless, miserable, desperate.
This is where we sat, each one of us, dead in our trespasses and sins, without hope of saving ourselves. Exposed to (and deserving of) the wrath of a holy God.
And two words make all of that darkness – all of that hopelessness – go away.
“But God”
The One Who had the power – and every reason – to destroy us, loved us with an immeasurable, unfathomable, totally incomprehensible love. A “great love”, according to verse 4.
And that love was so great, He not only took us from death to life, He “raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places” (v. 6). He made us “together with Christ” (v. 5), his perfect Son, free from the control of Satan.
Paul even tells us why: so that in the coming ages, he can show us even more grace and kindness. So that the redeemed can be like their Redeemer: made alive, raised up, and seated with Him.
Dear sisters, daughters of the King, write this on your hearts. Say it out loud – right now, where you are seated:
“For by grace I have been saved through faith. And this is not my own doing; it is the gift of God.” (v. 8)
And our response to this remarkable, holy, “But God” twist in the story? A life of obedience. Good works will spring out of us, not as a means of deserving the gift we’ve already received, but as a response to his “great love”.
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41 thoughts on "the great love"
This is a lovely and holy thing, however in my experience it takes more than just receiving His grace. I’ve had to learn how to live in His will and to let Him work in me to become the woman I am becoming. Yes, grace is a free gift from God but without working on myself thru that grace then it doesn’t mean anything; it becomes self serving lip service. Just my opinion.
I am so in love with the word of God! I love Paul! Such an inspiration to continue to walk with God. Some people are afraid to hear the truth; such as we are all headed for destruction if not for the grace of God. Knowing the truth makes me a stronger believer. I know where I could be, I know where I should be and because of that I know that God loves me. Thank you Lord for saving my soul #Amen
It’s amazing how a “but God” experience can transform our lives and place us in a undeserved position as a recipient of Grace, while those things which we fail to release in the “But God” experience can cause your life to dissimulate your true royal lineage and send you into a state of hopelessness and exposure. By choosing to follow God you magnify mercy and glorify grace , you are the manifestation of the “But God” experience!!! #ohgrace #butGod
Blown away this morning as I am reminded of His amazing love for us. Thank you, Father, for your unfailing love and the gift of eternal life!
Something happened today that did not fit with how I felt God should move. How wonderful is he to point out verse 10 “to walk in his plan” . He knows what he is doing, I just need to “let God…” & surrender it all. Not allowing it to be “Me”..
Thank you, glorious Father. I have so much to learn, but I want to be obediant in love. Amen.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
GOD is amazing ! Anyone else just starting this study? I’m on day 5 tomorrow.
Those two very small but impactful words”But God” are a perspective changer. A few months back I was having a hard time understanding why something was happening. It felt like God was leading me a certain direction and then it was changed and I didn’t know why. Matthew 3:15 says this: “But Jesus answered and said to him ‘Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he allowed Him.”
So no matter what I’m going through and no matter how much I don’t understand it. I can hope and rest in the fact that it is fitting for righteousness sake.
I love the quote "But God" I use that quite often when things aren't going the way "i" think they should, Then I will say "But God" and it kind of helps me to get things in perspective. Love this community. Thank you Jesus.
I love knowing that Jesus loves me unconditionally no matter what. In my times of sadness I just go somewhere alone and cry out to him asking him to wrap his loving arms around me and continue to hold my hand through this life. I am nothing without him and I can’t make it day to day without him.
Good works will spring out of us, not as a means of deserving the gift we’ve already received, but as a response to his “great love”. <~~~~~ Thank you for this! I now have a different perspective of what it means to be obedient to Christ! Obedience isn't for me to receive that which I desire (which is wordly anyway). Obedience is showing Christ how much I love him!
Saved by grace through faith! We cannot boast! I love that so much! I did nothing to deserve it yet He graciously saved me :-)
I grew up in a very Catholic community (I wasn’t but a lot of my Christian friends were) which really focused on works. I’m now working at a Lutheran school with many denominations represented and again the whole works issue comes up. (Again, I am not from that tradition either). So I have struggled to know how to communicate the truth in Eph 2:8&9 and reconcile James where is says Faith without works is dead, but reading today’s Devo helped me when the writer communicated it as a “life of obedience”. I love this passage in Eph, it is one of my favorites.
This is the first time I’ve ever partaken in a groups discussion about God. Reading Ephesians this morning made me feel very loved and protected. At this point, I don’t know what else to say, except that we are all blessed by God. It’s a good feeling, knowing that someone loves you that much, but I’ve also felt the pressure of it. I have to remind myself to keep reading the Bible, and also that The Lord loves me unconditionally.
Kelly-Rae,
So glad you found the SRT community! This is a great place to discuss and encourage one another and I'm glad you are a part of it.
It is true-we are all blessed that God loves us that much, and it is also true that there is pressure because of it. I was reminded of a song lyric when I was reading your comment: "Though I'm poor you say I am lovely, though I'm dark you say I am beautiful. Somehow my weak glance has overwhelmed you and somehow my weak love has stolen away Your heart." I hope that is encouraging! That song really helps me remember that He accepts me as I am and loves me so much that He won't leave me that way for long. :)
This is so humbling to be reminded that we ourselves do not play the major role in our salvation. Our salvation comes only from the great love of God in the form of Jesus. It is such a common thing to say, "God is love." But this passage really sends that message home. Any hope that we have comes from His great love alone.
Wow. This devotional is so…perfect. it’s convicting, exposing, strengthening, and encouraging. I particularly enjoyed this day’s reading. I need to be reminded of this everyday! It is God’s great love and work that have saved me; not my own works of my own half-hearted “righteousness.” God is so good!
I have been slow to get into our heavenly Father’s word so all of this is like new to me. I have read here and there and gone over words in studys, but to actually sit and reflect and see others enlightenments wow!!!
the verse that sticks out to me is Ephesians 2:8 For by grace I have saved through faith,and this is not by my own doing; it is the gift of God.
I am so blessed that God has so much grace for a sinner like me. my gratitude at this moment outweighs any momentery thoughts of pity I had. I am happy I found this group thru You Version and hope you come up with more books to study!!!
It is sooooooo humbling to read these passages and look back over my life and think of all the things that could have happened and the ways that God has shown himself strong. When I read and meditate on the words “But God” tears spring to my eyes bc I know this phrase to be true and I know the power of God’s grace and unending mercy. He didn’t have to save me from myself but He did and every day that I live is a testament not of my own strength but of His strength and the wonderful work that He is doing in me. Hallelujah, thank You Lord!!!!!
I love 2:10, which says "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Walk in them – it maks me think that we must walk in the steps of God's plan – not religiousity or legalism. That's why we must give it all to God. Surrender our lives to Him. So He, not I, direct my steps — and walk in them to do the good work that is His Plan. WOW!
Such a great passage,
The verse that just blows me away is
vs 5…
even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
EVEN when I’m still screwing up, God wants to love me, and save me…. Not that I would ever take this as an excuse to continue sinning, because inthink this passage gets misinterpreted a lot to mean “you can do what you want and god forgives” …. By no means, but it’s encouraging to know that He accepts me before I have it all together…. And as an outflow of my developing and deepening relationship with Him I will become more Christ like. Thank God.
So thankful for this community and the encouragement to dig into His word each day. Thank you!
My favorite verse was “trust God enough to let him do is work with us.” So often I get caught up in my timing it’s easy to forget that God is the one taking care of everything I need. I love that Paul makes a point to remind us how much God loves us.
Gods gift of grace that SAVED OUR LIFE. How amazing to think of that.
This passage is just full of so much for me. I struggle with wanting to do everything and verse 8 reminds me again that there is nothing I can do. God is giving the gifts!! I love that! He continually decides to give us gifts and blessings even when we were at the lowest point and deserved them the least. My past thinking and insecurities are staying in the past, God has given me a new life with Christ. A life full of joy and confidence in Him!!!
The verse that stuck out to me was v6 ("And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms…")
It blows my mind that, because of God's grace, we are heirs to the same throne as Christ! He raised us up WITH Christ (v5 says He "made us alive with Christ") so that we may have life eternal with Him. What a glorious gift!
I pray that I may extend a Christ-like love to all that I come across, in response to this glorious gift.
What a timely reminder for me as I continue to have major rejection in my life from a sibling. The reminder to me this morning was found in the first 3 verses that my sibling is on the other side of the cross and that I have the choice……to react in likeness or remember that I am a conduit of Christ and His love, to continue as I have been…..extending love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. To keep my heart soft for the day of forgiveness and no more rejection on my siblings part and especially pray for their salvation!
Praying that God would give you grace and love in your responses. <3
Ladies!
Wow. This passage blows me away. I've read it before, but this morning it was just what I needed to hear….trying to apply this to my life and speak this truth into my mind and heart today. God specifically created me as evidence of his great LOVE and grace – I am his proof. Stunning.
Hope you all have a wonderful day.
vs 8 is such a precious truth that I must remember every day… I'm so thankful, if you all would like an encouraging song that in many ways echos this passage, check out "All I Have Is Christ" by Sovereign Grace music on YouTube
I love that word, ADVANCE. Like, whatever Gods plan is, he knew it before I was alive. I am here for a purpose and he wants me to do good for him. I’m going to do it. I wouldn’t want to disappoint my biological father so I don’t want to disappoint my heavenly one either. Thank you ladies so much for putting this study together for us.!
Erica, praying for your mother!
I love reading through Ephesians. KCK, I agree..that verse in particular makes me was to wake up in the morning. Our God..prepared works for us. Sometimes that's hard to wrap your head around, but it's so true.
Erica, praying for you. Just went though a similar situation with my mom..it's hard. {hugs}
When I read this passage, it made tears come to my eyes, because God is THAT rich in love and I am THAT undeserving. He is full of grace and mercy, and I must live to be the same!
"Then He picked us up and set us down in Highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah!"
(verse 6 the Message) I love this picture! Here we were mired down in sin yet when we accepted Jesus He picked us up out of sin and the world and put us down next to Jesus! Just the thought of Him picking me up, holding me close, and setting me down, with honor , next to Him brings tears to my eyes! For me there couldn't be a better picture for me to keep in mind as I try and make my way through this life!
Happy Day Ladies! Isn't it wonderful to know that God's gift of grace has saved us through our faith in Him, not by what we do. I cry tears of joy everytime I read Ephesians 2:10. We were created by Him to do good things which He had planned and prepared for me to do loooonnng before I was ever me. It makes me feel so special.
It is comforting to know that God made me the way he wanted me to be for the plans he has for me. He knew every wrong and right I would do and still chose me. What an awesome loving God we have!!!
Erica – Praying
Have a great day ladies.
Praying for your family, Erica!
One of my favorite verses is the last one, v.10
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, WHICH GOD PREPARED IN ADVANCE FOR US TO DO
It is such a comfort knowing God knows what is going to happen in this life and reminds me of the verse in Hebrews that says nothing is hidden from God, everything is laid bare before Him to whom we must give account.
I don't have all the answers and thankfully, I don't have to!
Take Care today ladies!
Hi girls, I'd really appreciate some prayer today for my mom as she's waiting to find out the results of some medical tests. Thanks, and may you have a blessed day!
Erica, any updated news you can share about your mom? Would love to know how to pray more specifically for her and your family!
Yes, thanks for the prayers everyone! My mom's tests came back clear – no problems – so I'm very grateful to God for that!