Hey guys and gals,
It is Wednesday! How are you doing? Are you keeping up with your reading and praying? Let's dive into Ephesians 2.
1. I am not going to lie. I needed to read this passage today. For some of you, yesterday was a very tough day. For those who don't know, a senior girl and freshmen boy at Illiana lost their mother tragically yesterday. I have no words to describe their loss. There is a part of me that is hurt, angry, scared, and worried. Death is never something we like to think about, but it is the only certainty in life. I know a lot of you have dealt with death. Some of you have lost parents, siblings, grandparents, or friends and it is painful. I would like all of us to say a prayer for the Huizenga family as they wrestle with this loss. Then I want you to pray for others that you know that have lost loved ones in the last few years and ask God to wrap their arms around them as well. I know of at least 4 or 5 people in our youth groups that have lost parents in the last 3 years. Pray for them and then thank God that because of Jesus Christ, death does not have the final answer.
2. This passage from Ephesians talks about that. It says we are all dead in our sin and that we followed the ways of the world instead of God. In what ways do you still follow the ways of the world? Are you listening to the Spirit work in your heart or do you let the voices of culture drown out the Spirit's voice? Do you listen to the voices that say that you are not good enough, pretty enough, talented enough? Do you listen to voices of culture that say sex is ok before marriage? Or do you listen to cultural voices that say live for today and for yourself? Or do you listen to God's voice. Now I not talking about audible voices here. You guys are probably thinking I am crazy person who hears all these voices. I am talking about the message of culture and the message of God. Which do you listen to and what keeps you from listening to the message of God?
3. You can't get past verse 4 without a little smile. BECAUSE OF GOD'S GREAT LOVE FOR US. God loves you and he saved you. It is because of God's great love that death doesn't win. It is because of God's great love that we have hope that when someone we love dies, that we will see them again. It is because of God's great love that we can have purpose in life. It is because of God's great love that we know that people who have die are now with Jesus. God's love is great and it is only because of his grace that we can be saved. As we talked about yesterday, nothing we do can save us and everyone of us deserve eternal death. But God wasn't going to let that happen and although every one of us here is going to die, we know that death is not an ending, but a beginning. It is a beginning of an eternity with Jesus. Look at verse 6. We will be seated with Jesus. We get to be on his lap right next to God. You are not just going to be thrown in a corner some day in heaven, you are going to be seated right next to Jesus. I don't know about you, but that is cool to me. Now that doesn't mean that death is easy and I think sometimes we try to over-religiousize death. Death hurts deep and is some ways those wounds never fully heal. I don't have good answers for death. I always think of 2 things. First, we need to rally around those who are hurting because of a death in their family. Just be there for them. Just love on them. Don't tell them you know how they feel because you don't. EVeryone's grief is different. Just be there an love on them. Second, take hope in knowing that you will see them again and that their loved one is sitting with Jesus. It is a little hope in intense pain, but it is hope and remember that God is always faithful.
4. Verse 8 talks about how our faith is a gift from God and that we need to be grateful for that gift. Have you ever thanked God for giving you the gift of faith? We love getting gifts don't we, but how often do we thank God for giving us the gift of faith?
5. Verse 10 talks about us being God's workmanship. When someone creates something, they expect it to perform for the purpose it was created. If I make a paper airplane, I expect it to fly even though it usually doesn't. God created us. He crafted you in a very special way. Each one of you are special, unique, and awesome because God has put his special stamp on you. However, you have a purpose and that is to do good works. We know Good works don't save us, but we were created to do them. That is our purpose. If the paper airplane doesn't fly, it has failed to live up to its purpose. W need to live up to our purpose. What are things in your life you can do to better live up to your purpose? Read I Corinthians 13 for a great list.