by Zach Roll

Then and Now

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved.”
Ephesians 2: 1-2; 4-5

This devotion is inspired by a devotion that was shared by a coworker. Every Friday, my team gets together in the morning before we start our day and we spend about a half an hour in devotions. This particular devotion stood out to me. The question was asked, how often do you read Scripture and it is so familiar to you at this point that you tend to skip over some pretty important words, even just two simple words.

Our hope is from above.

The two simple words in this passage of Scripture are “but God.” Two little words that make a world of difference. At one point in each of our lives, we were spiritually dead in our sins, we walked in the world’s footsteps, and did not concern ourselves with God. We did what we wanted to do. Then those two words come into play, we were absolutely without hope, but God out of His unfailing love for us and being rich in mercy (or forgiveness), even when we were dead and without hope, saved us through the sending of His only begotten Son to die a death that should have been our own.

Without those two words “but God” we are still without hope, because there is no hope to be found within us to save ourselves. We are the reason we were cut off from God to begin with. That is why verse five ends with “by grace you have been saved.” We need grace, we need mercy, and God gives us these things freely because He loves us enough to send His Son to die for us. There is hope, there is life, found in Christ alone. Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO