The God of love, gave His son for the Jew and the Gentiles.

Eph. 1:13-14

13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Paul, indirectly, is speaking right at us through this week’s passage. In Bible terms, we are Gentiles. We are not Jewish. We are not a part of God’s chosen people that a huge part of the narrative of the Bible follows. We are from nations that the Biblical authors describe as enemies of God and many other negative descriptors (a shameful nation, adulteresses, wicked…). Yet God chose to include us in His son’s resurrection and to allow us to be marked with that seal of the Holy Spirit.

A couple of years ago I decided to start read the Bible from the beginning and slowly work my way through (I’m still going…shame) and let’s be real from the beginning of the Old Testament it becomes evident that God’s chosen people, the Israelites, didn’t live like the set-apart people God called them to be. Generation after generation they failed to live according to the Law and trust the God of the universe. They at times partook in the same detestable practices of the nations around them and were deserving of the same labels as the surrounding nations. I constantly had this resounding thought, “far out these people are idiots. Will they ever learn to listen!?” But God always shows them grace in some way. It’s subtle at times and extravagant in others, but his mercy is always with His chosen people…and that’s what I couldn’t understand. Some people really struggle with God’s wrath on people. How could a loving God do such things? But as I read of the never-ending pattern of sin, it baffled me at times why God would choose to save people who obviously weren’t following him or at times had no intention of trying to…

For me I could only return to the truth that I knew. That God is love. His love transcends my logic and understanding of what love is. It’s bewildering that he would choose to love people who don’t love him and what’s more is that love caused him to give up His son Jesus for the Jews, Gentiles, us! At times I think we lose a sense of how crazy that is. We start to make God understandable and as if we finally get it. But that’s not reality…we are never going to fully understand God’s love for us. It should never stop amazing us.

“He knew exactly what I cost, and He still went”

“When I finally arrive and my body glides me home, Jesus, who once bore my shame, adorned in majesty on His throne. I will stand and wearing His righteousness as my cloak”

Childbodybride – My Epic (link to song below)

Prayer:

Lord,

I may at times forget or become complacent with regards to your love for me. The world often sings me back to sleep, causing me to fall back into believing the lie that you aren’t as amazing as you truly are. But lord I ask that you once again open my eyes. Pull me out of my sleepy blindness and help me to see clearly how wonderful you are. Help me to see all that you have done throughout history and throughout my own life. With my whole heart I thank you for counting me as one who has an eternal inheritance in your kingdom. In Jesus name,

Amen

A song to listen to: childbodybride   My Epic

Celina Fyffe

Living Church – Creek Road