New Condition: Alive to God

Ephesians 2.4-10
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).
And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

God loves us with an exceeding great love (even while we were dead and dormant in sin). He has made us Alive with Him. It is all because of His grace. He has raised us up to sit with Him in the Heavenly places in Him. That He might show us the exceeding greatness of His grace towards us. In Jesus. All of these blessings and gifts are by God’s grace towards us. Our salvation does not come according to our works. Salvation is a gift; even the faith to believe is a gift. Salvation is by God’s grace. We were created by God to do the good works for which He created us to do - even before the foundations of the earth was laid.

It is beneficial for us to step back and remember what is reality. Reality is what the Word of God says about us - that we were created for good works. That gives me hope! There are good things that I have yet to do! We can be encouraged and emboldened because God is rich in mercy and love towards us! Here is truth. We have been raised up and now sit in the Heavenly places with God. Don't look at the situation around you and say "this is what is". Can not God do the impossible? Can not God bring water from the rock? Can God not make paths and streams in the wilderness? All things are possible for Him, all we must do is believe.

Rise up now! Believe.

Believe even when all you can see is the wilderness and no hope for an oasis. The Israelites were being pursued by Pharoah's army in the desert even to the edge of the Red Sea. In the natural, it would look like they were at the end of their rope. But God!

He made a way where there was no way. God worked a supernatural miracle, literally creating a path through water, to save the Israelites. What does this look like in your life? Are you in a wilderness? Are you being pursued by an army much greater and stronger than you? Have you come to the end of your strength? Lift your eyes to Heaven. Where does your help come from? Your help comes from the Lord. The maker of Heaven and Earth. Believe. Call out. Trust. Claim His promises. Nothing is impossible for those who believe and trust God fully.

We were saved by Grace. It was the gift of God. We don't have to do anything to gain His approval of who we are. All we do is believe He is who He said He was. Creator, redeemer, lover of our souls. He said that He has a purpose and a plan for us, a hope and future. All we have to do is trust.