March 10, 2018

Behold God’s Redeeming Love

Willie James Jennings | Read Ephesians 2:1-10

(Image by: Pixabay)

Lectionary Week

March 5–11, 2018

Scripture Overview

Sometimes we get ourselves into trouble by our words and actions. It’s okay to admit it. It happens to all of us. The Israelites experienced this when their constant grumbling provoked God’s wrath in Numbers 21. Yet even in this story, God provides the means of salvation. The psalmist echoes the refrain that when we put ourselves in bad positions, we may cry out to the Lord for deliverance. We read in Ephesians that all of us were living in disobedience to God, but God has done all the work of reconciliation by grace given through Christ Jesus. John ties all this together, gesturing to the story in Numbers 21 to teach us that Christ is the means of restoration and salvation for all who believe in him.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

• Read Numbers 21:4-9. When has your complaining distorted your sense of reality? How do you maintain a sense of God’s presence?
• Read Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22. Consider implementing a practice of rising from sleep to give God thanks and to call to mind the many ways God works in your life.
• Read Ephesians 2:1-10. Does your sense of God’s salvation engender a sense of grace within you and a desire to do good? Why or why not?
• Read John 3:14-21. Do you consider yourself a creature of light or darkness? Why?

Respond by posting a prayer.

I find it interesting to look at before-and-after pictures and see positive transformation of homes, objects, or people. We are the recipients of the world’s greatest before-and-after. We were once caught in sin and disobedience and enslaved to destructive forces both inwardly and outwardly that drove us toward living in...

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Thank you, gracious and loving God, for transforming me into a sign of grace. Amen.

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