Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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The Restoring Christ
Ephesians 2:1-10
Vs 4,5“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 book of Ephesians was written by the Apostle Paul to the people of Ephesus while serving a prison sentence in Rome.  Like most of Paul’s Epistles, the letter is written primarily to a Gentile (non-Jewish) audience.  It is an exhortation to the new believers, who through the power of the Holy Spirit, have been adopted into a covenant relationship with God by believing in His Son Jesus Christ.  The transforming power of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God restore us from a state of brokenness caused by sin into a new life “to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”- (Ephesians 2:10).

Brokenness is defined as “not functioning as intended” or “out of order.”  For example, a watch is used to tell time.  However, if it is damaged in some way, it will not be able to carry out its designated function.  Apart from abiding in Christ, we are dead inside, unable to carry out our designated function. It is only through Him and His mercy that we are able to live life in a way that it was intended to be.

As sons and daughters of Adam, our natural inclination is to “live in the ways of the world” (Ephesians 2:2).  God, not wanting any of us to remain dead forever, sent His only Son Jesus Christ to die on the Cross for our sins.  The same power that raised Jesus up from the grave lives in us through His Spirit and restores us as a new creation in the eyes of the Father.

This passage reminds us we are saved by grace, because of God’s love for His people.  We earn this gift not by our works, but through faith.  Restoration is necessary in order to fulfill God’s plans for our lives.  Thereby bringing greater glory not to ourselves but for His Kingdom.  Once we have been made new by our adoption into the family of believers, we our allowed to partake in His covenant and to be seated with Him when our life on Earth is complete.

Let us take time to reflect whether willing to leave to leave our sinful selves behind in order to allow God’s grace to restore us into new life, led by faith in Him, rather than by our own works.
PRAYER
Dear Lord, thank you for living a perfect life on Earth, and dying on the cross to restore us from brokenness.  Allow us to remember each and every moment of our life is because of your great love and mercy towards us.  As new creations, allow us to carry out the good works you have prepared in advance for us to fulfill with our limited time here on Earth. Amen. 
 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
“Leave the broken, irreversible past in God's hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him.”-Oswald Chambers

Shawn Varghese- Trinity Mar Thoma Church Houston, Texas
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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