Read: Ephesians
2
Life with Christ is abundant and purposeful. We
were once dead in our trespasses and sins, but now we are alive in the
righteousness given to us by Christ! God saves us that we might know His mercy
and great love. Part of His love for us is revealed in His desire to partner
with us in spreading His kingdom. He created every single human being with
specific gifts and characteristics, so that we could do the specific good works
He has prepared for us (v 10).
Before we submitted ourselves to Jesus’ leadership,
we lived according to the desires and passions of the sinful nature. As Christians
it is easy to forget that many of the people we interact with daily are still
slaves to sin. Our friends, family, neighbours, co-workers and loved ones are
living apart from Christ, not part of God’s people and not knowing His
promises. They live in this world without God and without hope (v 12). This is
one of the saddest statements in Scripture and it is a true description of our
world. Our world is lost and desperate. We must become urgent for Christ to
restore people’s lives and give ourselves to shine His light in the darkness.
Prayer and
Journaling
1. How has your life has changed as a result of
knowing Christ? How have you moved from death to life, from despair to hope?
Thank God for these things.
2. God made you in a specific way, and wants to use
you to advance His kingdom. Ask God to show you how He made you: what gifts,
abilities, characteristics, personality traits, etc. did He choose to give you?
How does He desire to use these unique things about you to advance His kingdom?
3. God does not discriminate. He desires all people
to be saved (v 14-17). Are there any individuals or groups of people that you
avoid ministering to? Confess and ask God to reveal why you struggle with these
particular people. Ask God to give you His love and compassion for these
people. Where our love for people is never enough, God’s love for people is
always more than enough.
4. Pray that the Church in Canada would grow in our
burden to reach the lost. Pray that we would not be happy playing church, but
that our eyes would be opened to the broken, hopeless state of the people
around us. Pray that God would prepare the hearts of many in our nation, in
anticipation of a great harvest. Ask God to begin or strengthen strategic relationships
that He desires to use to lead people to Him. Pray for boldness and grace on
the part of believers. Pray that our love for God would burn so strongly that
we could not help but desire for all to know Him more!
