The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States “GOD IS WORKING” for Sunday, 21 August 2016 with Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States “GOD IS WORKING” for Sunday, 21 August 2016 with Scripture: Ephesians 2:1 You used to be dead because of your sins and acts of disobedience. 2 You walked in the ways of the ‘olam hazeh and obeyed the Ruler of the Powers of the Air, who is still at work among the disobedient. 3 Indeed, we all once lived this way — we followed the passions of our old nature and obeyed the wishes of our old nature and our own thoughts. In our natural condition we were headed for God’s wrath, just like everyone else.
4 But God is so rich in mercy and loves us with such intense love 5 that, even when we were dead because of our acts of disobedience, he brought us to life along with the Messiah — it is by grace that you have been delivered. 6 That is, God raised us up with the Messiah Yeshua and seated us with him in heaven, 7 in order to exhibit in the ages to come how infinitely rich is his grace, how great is his kindness toward us who are united with the Messiah Yeshua. 8 For you have been delivered by grace through trusting, and even this is not your accomplishment but God’s gift. 9 You were not delivered by your own actions; therefore no one should boast. 10 For we are of God’s making, created in union with the Messiah Yeshua for a life of good actions already prepared by God for us to do.
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The psalmist wrote, “Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for me.”[Psalm 66:16 (NRSV)]
Each Sunday, I enter worship in full command of my emotions. But it often doesn’t last. A verse or phrase of a hymn I have sung for decades strikes me in an entirely new way. I reflect on how God has worked in my life, in the lives of my loved ones, and in members of the church I attend. A flood of memories and feelings pours over me. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for God’s grace and mercy, and tears come to my eyes.
For many years I could not have imagined standing in church, unashamed of my lack of composure. I could not have imagined being comfortable talking about my faith, or praying in public. Then, through many different experiences, not all of them positive, God broke through my shell of insecurity and self-protection. God put agents of grace in my path, and opened my heart to their acceptance and love. When I finally understood that God is present and active in my life and the lives of others, I became more confident in my faith and more committed to grow in it.
Some may think of God as abstract and remote. But for me, the opposite is true. The Holy Spirit can transform the way we experience God, inviting us into a personal relationship with our Creator.
The Author: Hayes Mizell (South Carolina, USA) — See p. 21.
Thought for the Day: How has my response to God’s grace changed over time?
Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for being with us each day. Grant us courage to respond authentically. Amen.
Prayer focus: WORSHIP LEADERS

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