
05/09/2025
DAILY PROMISES OF GOD 248/365
From Death to Life: A Reflection on God's Great Love
Read Ephesians 2:1-1-22
Ephesians 2:4-5 (NASB95)
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
These verses contain some of the most hopeful and transformative words in all of Scripture. They begin by painting a stark picture of our spiritual condition without God: "dead in our transgressions." This doesn't mean we were physically dead, but that we were separated from the source of all life, unable to save ourselves.
Then, two powerful words shift the entire narrative: "But God."These words introduce a dramatic contrast, moving from our desperate situation to God's loving intervention. The passage tells us that God's actions are not motivated by anything we have done. Instead, they flow from two key aspects of His character: His rich mercy and His great love.
Mercy is when we don't get the punishment we deserve. God, being "rich in mercy," has an abundant and overwhelming compassion for us. This mercy isn't something we earn; it's a gift. It's because of this incredible mercy that He chose to act.
The driving force behind this mercy is "His great love." It's a love so profound that it moved God to action even when we were at our worst, spiritually lifeless and turned away from Him. He didn't wait for us to clean up our act or become lovable. While we were in a state of spiritual death, He reached out.
The result of this love and mercy is a miracle: He "made us alive together with Christ." This is more than just forgiveness; it's a complete spiritual resurrection. Just as Christ was physically raised from the dead, those who trust in Him are brought from a state of spiritual death into a new, vibrant life. This new life is a free gift, something the passage emphasizes with the phrase "by grace you have been saved."It’s a powerful reminder that our connection with God is not based on our own efforts, but entirely on His amazing and undeserved kindness.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
I am humbled when I consider these words. I recognize that without You, I am spiritually lost and lifeless.
But You, in your incredible mercy and love, did not leave me in that state. Thank you for being "rich in mercy" and for having a "great love" for me, even when I was turned away from You. Thank you for not giving me what I deserve, but instead, offering me compassion and forgiveness.
I am so grateful that you "made me alive together with Christ." Thank you for the new life, the spiritual breath, and the hope that comes only from You. Help me to never forget that this is a gift of grace, something I could never earn on my own. May I live each day in the joy and freedom of this amazing truth.
In Jesus' name, Amen.