Ephesians 2:1-5 (Click here to read all of Ephesians 2)
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and 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 it's 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 dead in transgressions- it is by grace you have been saved.
The beautiful thing about Ephesians, as I mentioned in my last post, is that it is a book full of riches and treasures. Treasures that the believer already possesses and many times doesn't even realize or choose to access. The last treasure I focused on was "power". As incredible as that treasure is for our daily lives, it means nothing without the next one: Life.
According to Ephesians 2, God has given us life. He has made us "alive" on a spiritual level. He has freed us from the chains of sin and the bondage of being slaves to our sinful nature.
I find that sometimes, as powerful as the above words can be- we get caught up in the familiarity of the "christian lingo" to the point where it no longer has a profound effect on our souls...much less any impact at all. Freedom from the chains of our sinful nature sounds great...but what does that even look like in our day to day lives?
The truth is, though many of us are "free"- we are living as though we were dead. We are walking around like zombies- brought back to life from the dead- yet still conforming to the ways of the dead. We are caught up and controlled by sins that we can't seem to shake. They may be sins that no one will ever witness but ourselves: Selfishness. Pride. Self-Loathing. Lust. Envy. Indulgence.
Or they may be things so obvious that we cannot seem to hide though we try: Anger. Rage. Gluttony. Addictions. Sexual sins. Greed.
Either way, one thing is certain- we don't always feel as free as Christ says we are. We don't always believe that the same power that raised Christ from the grave can also raise us from the sinful graves we have allowed ourselves to rest in.
Take a look at your life today. Take a sincere, deep, thoughtful look at who you are and what you do. What are the sins that seem to be bogging you down. What parts of your life reek of the smell of death though you are fully alive.
The same power that raised Christ from his physical death can also raise us from our own spiritual death. His power can invade your mind, your heart, your personality. His power can even conquer the pain of your past and free you from the bondage of the generational sin that was passed down to you. Alcoholism. Sexual addictions. Lying. Worry. Over eating. Laziness. Fear.
There is nothing to great or too small. But we must choose daily to allow God's grace to take hold of us and give us life again and again. We must choose to walk away from the things that trip us up and lead us back to our graves. We must choose to accept life from the hands of the Life-Giver. Each and every single day.
May we all be awakened from the dead.
Grace and peace to you all.
Oh You Bring: By Hillsong United
VERSE 1:
Oh You bring hope to the hopeless
And light to those in the darkness
And death to life
Now I'm alive
Oh You give peace to the restless
And joy to homes that are broken
I see You now
In You I'm found
CHORUS:
And You opened the door for me
And You laid down
Your life to set me free
All that I am will serve You Lord
And You opened my eyes to see
All the wonder and awe of Christ in me
Jesus You're everything I need
VERSE 2:
Oh You fill those who are empty
And rescue those in the valley
And through it all You calm my soul
Oh You find me in my weakness
And heal the wounds of my heartache
I worship You in spirit and truth
BRIDGE:
All honor
All glory
All praise to You
I love the analogy to zombies because I do believe that one of the gravest things that we as Christians do is live life as zombies; grateful to be alive, not knowing what to do with it. Paul points out several times that we don't do this alone, that God has given us the means, through Christ and His church "to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."
ReplyDeleteOkay, you got me right at the title. Loads to ponder and reflect upon. I appreciate the recognition of "christianese", buzzwords of faith that create a complacency. Zombies.. how apt, graphic and attention stopping.
ReplyDeleteJaNear, I know....zombies has been a pretty convicting idea for me. Walking around dead many times...dead to God's life and spirit although it is at work with in us. I think we also get used to tuning it out...may we all become a dwelling place for His spirit- alive and active, beginning today. Thanks for being a part of this.
ReplyDeleteMaria, thanks for your thoughts, I am so glad this stuff is resonating with you as much as it is me. Complacency in general is such a huge problem among Christians...we are under an anesthetic sometimes, not able to be awakened by anyone and anything. May God wake us up from our sleep. Thanks for reading, for your support, and for being a part of this study!
ReplyDeleteVery good analogy Deb! This chapter resonates with me particularly, because it was a pastor's message on this passage that truly brought me back to God after years of rebellion. He mentioned that life boils down to one choice.. the choice to follow our fleshly natures and desires (and Satan) or the choice to follow God. And no matter what choices we have made in the past, God looks at us with love and acceptance when we choose to follow him. Sometimes we have to make a conscious effort everyday to follow God instead of own sinful natures!! THanks for sharing Deb!
ReplyDeleteI think this is a reminder to me that I go through my everyday life without really thinking, it's all just a bunch of actions. A routine that I have become so used to that I am not challenged and do not need to think before doing.
ReplyDeleteI have been challenged after reading this post to really look inside myself for the 'life' that God has given me and to do something with it.
Thanks for these simple, yet not so easy to make a priority, reminders. Things we should not need to be told, we should already be doing this as children of God. We are only human and not perfect. Thankfully we have a gracious and merciful Father!
Naomi, how cool it is to hear how God spoke to your heart through this very idea of choosing "life". Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for reading along!
ReplyDeleteAng, you're right....it's amazing that we have to hear these things over and over again and sometimes we still don't get it. I think that's why the bible is so repetitive sometimes, it's like God knows we need to hear it over and over and over again...and in His mercy he loves us through our many mistakes, flaws...and even apathy. Thanks for reading, for sharing your thoughts, and for being a part of this journey!!