Ephesians 2
4 But God
HAVE YOU HAD A BUT GOD MOMENT?
These two words, must be among the greatest words in the whole bible, to the Christian, they are music to his ears.
Man is in a condition that he/she cannot change and cannot hope to change, in verse 1 it says we are dead in trespasses and sins, indeed we are hopelessly trapped, we are as dead as a do-do.
Man seeks to be Mr. do it yourself, he/she seeks any method to make himself better, but he can’t.
Verses 1-3 paint a terrible picture of man’s condition, he has no hope and it is only God that can do anything.
If it wasn’t for God, then I would still be trapped in the pit of sin, every Christian has had A BUT GOD MOMENT.
My friend, you need to have a But God moment, when God steps in and saves you, there is no hope in trying to earn salvation, you can’t.
The rest of the verse tells us why God saves us and we will consider this next time.
Trust in Christ alone and have you own But God moment.
God bless you
Keith
EPHESIANS 2
4 who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
RICHES THAT ARE BEYOND MEASURE
We saw in our last devotion that those who are saved, all have their own BUT GOD moment.
How does this come about?
God has no reason to pour out his mercy on hardened sinners like us, he could and maybe should of turned his back on us, but thank God he didn’t.
Romans 5 says this:
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
We are completely unable in our own power to do anything to help ourselves, it is God’s mercy that we are saved and not of human effort, the whole point of this section is to show that man is impotent, completely unable to do anything to change his sinful condition.
Mercy is the withholding of what we deserve, listen to the apostle Paul, as he outlines the mercy of God. Chapter 9 of Romans sums this up:
15
For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
23
And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
God’s mercy is poured out on us, he can be merciful to us, because at the cross, he was merciless to his only son Jesus at the cross.
Mercy was extended to guilty sinners because Jesus laid down his life, Paul states this glorious fact in 2 Corinthians 5:
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
The great love of God for us, is beyond our imagination, why should God love us?
I for one, cannot think of one reason, why he should love me, again Romans 5:8, sums these thoughts up:
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Christians know this rich mercy and great love, therefore we are to share it, it is our privilege to do this.
Are you sharing it or are you keeping it to yourself?
How selfish if you are?
But to those of you reading this, who do not know the richness of his mercy and his great love, the time to trust Christ is NOW
2 Corinthians 6:2
(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
Do not harden your heart.
Trust Christ today, tomorrow may be too late.
Hebrews 4:7
Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
God bless you
KK