Wednesday, September 13
Rich and great
Scripture: Ephesians 2
Ephesians 2:4–7 But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, 5 even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you are saved!—6 and he raised us up with him and seated us 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.
Observation
While describing God’s salvation of us, Paul piles up the superlatives: God’s rich mercy, great love and the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness. God is not just merciful, loving, gracious and kind—He is rich beyond imagination in all those!
Application
This is difficult for me to grasp because all those qualities are finite and limited in me. I find it hard to love some people, to show mercy, grace and kindness. God, on the other hand, never runs out of those qualities. There is no end to His love, mercy, grace and kindness.
In Romans 5:20, Paul says that where sin increased, God’s grace increased all the more. His grace is always greater than our sin. The hymn, The Love of God, includes this verse.
Could we with ink the oceans fill and were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill and every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above would drain the oceans dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole though stretched from sky to sky.
God’s love is mind-boggling.
Today, when I find it hard to love or show mercy, grace and kindness, I will turn to the One whose love is great, and whose mercy, grace and kindness is surpassingly rich!
Prayer: Lord, I love You. Fill me today with Your great love and give me the riches of Your grace not just for me but for each person I meet.
More: Isaiah 25-26, Psalm 106, Hebrews 13