As I was reading this chapter I was impressed with the thought that Paul brings out in the beginning of the chapter. "And you, He made alive, when you were dead by your trespasses and sins."
I was thinking what a person who didn't know the Lord would think reading something that says we're "dead" but He makes us "alive" and how I would explain that to them if they asked me about it. Then I read on and realized that the explanation is right there but I would have to first examine my own life. This made me really search how I am living my "saved or alive" life in Christ.
Vs 2 really explains how we used to live when we were dead - we were rebellious, we lived for ourselves, we were disobedient, careless and unbelieving!!! This doesn't only sound like "sinners" but I see a lot of "Christians" who still live this way. Even as I look at my own life I can see "dead" places that need to "come alive" in Him!!!
In verse 5 Paul further explains one of the ways that brings that life to us and that is our "fellowship and union with Christ".
I believe people who have given their lives to Christ sometimes think that if they just start going to church their lives will change and they won't need to work on being different!!! We have to first recognize that we can't live our lives like we used to - with the same influences we used to have - and then we have to change our lives and how we live them. New influences, fellowship with believers who live for God, "eating" the Word of God and living it, not being comfortable with the "old" nature that brings "death" to us.
I love how practical Paul is when he writes. He exposes what God did but he also tells us what we can't allow anymore!!! I want life and more of it!!!
"God, show me the death in me that I need to have you breath life into!!! Let my life bring life to others. Do CPR on me and revive the dead areas that I have allowed to lay dormant. Expose them to me so I will hate them enough to bring change because I know your provision for change is there, I just have to make use of it!!!"
1 comment:
Amen, Pastor Susan. In my bible, verse 2 reads, “You used to live just like the rest of the world…” (emphasis added) which indicates that, once I have accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior, change in how I live my life should be obvious. Verses 11-12 say that when we lived as unbelievers, we were outsiders, living apart from Christ, excluded from God’s people, did not know the promises of God, and that we lived in this world without God and without hope. BUT verse 13 says, “Though you were once far away from God, now you have been brought near to him because of the blood of Christ.”
As you said, salvation is not the end … it is only the beginning. I must choose to draw near to God (reading His word, prayer, fellowship with other believers) so that the Holy Spirit can daily, sometimes moment by moment, illuminate those areas in my life where I am living as the world lives … those areas of my stinkin’ thinkin’, speaking, and emotions that are like the world! It makes me think of how a caterpillar spins a cocoon and stays hidden as the metamorphosis process takes place and then emerges as a beautiful butterfly. As I stay “hidden” in the word of God and in His presence, the Holy Spirit brings change in every area of my life.
Verse 4 says, “But God is so rich in mercy…” Thank you, Father, for your great grace and mercy toward me as I conform to your image. Help me to extend your grace and mercy to those who do not yet know you, as well as to those who do know you.
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