Day 13 — Made Alive for a New Way of Life

Day 13 · The Gospel: God’s Saving Grace · Ephesians 2:1-10 (NET2)

Paul describes our need without flattery and God's mercy without limit: dead in sins, we are made alive with Christ. Salvation is God's gift, not the reward for good works. Yet grace also gives our lives a new direction. We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. Obedience grows from belonging to Christ; it is not the price of admission.

Request

Father, thank you for making us alive with Christ. By your Spirit, help me rest in your grace and walk in the good works you set before me. Amen.

Read

Ephesians 2:1-10

¹ And although you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ² in which you formerly lived according to this world’s present path, according to the ruler of the domain of the air, the ruler of the spirit that is now energizing the sons of disobedience, ³ among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest…

⁴ But God, being rich in mercy because of his great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even though we were dead in offenses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you are saved! — ⁶ and he raised us up together with him and seated us together with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; ⁹ it is not from works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are his creative work, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we can do them.

Scripture: NET Bible, Second Edition (NET2).

Reflect

1. How does Paul contrast our former condition with what God has done because of his mercy and love?
2. What difference does it make to see good works as the fruit of salvation rather than its price?

Restate

Describe how God's grace both saves us and gives our lives a new direction.

Respond

Let the passage guide your prayer. Use these prompts in your own words:

• Praise: Praise God for his rich mercy and great love.
• Thanksgiving: Thank him that salvation is his gift, not your achievement.
• Confession: Confess pride in performance or indifference toward obedience.
• Intercession: Pray for someone who needs new life in Christ.
• Petition: Ask for eyes to see and willingness to do the good before you.

Carry it into today: Choose one good work within today's responsibilities and do it as a thankful response to grace.