Forgiven Christians (Ephesians 2:8-9)

EPHESIANS 2:8-9

"FOR BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH, AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD AND NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANYONE SHOULD BOAST"

One could spend a considerable amount of time dwelling on this one verse. I chose it as the theme for this ministry because of the profound sense of peace we can have by embracing the truth that God alone has saved us from all the sins, mistakes, and hurts in our lives.

We are saved by His Grace. His love. His mercy.

Even the faith that we have to grasp the truth of this message is our Father's gift to us. The only way we can understand the meaning of this verse is through the Holy Spirit giving us the faith to understand it.

When we take the message of the Bible and try to wrap our tiny little minds around it, the most profound conclusion we can achieve is that the God of the universe, of time, space, and eternity is crazy in love with us. It is His gift to us that we can be crazy in love with Him.

God chose us to be His children. By His Grace we can rejoice at His feet with full assurance in our hearts that He will never leave or abandon us. Even our ability to say "yes!" to His invitation was His choice, not ours. He loves us that much.

What about "free will"? We have "free will" in the ability to do what is pleasing to our Father or what is disappointing. We need to get over the idea that we have the ability in ourselves to accept His invitation to be His children. Who among us chose our parents? As we grew older, we may have alienated ourselves from our families, but the ties were never completely severed. Their DNA runs through our bloodstream. Our Heavenly Father "chose" who among us would have the magnificent honor of being His children.

Our great challenge is to rest in the Father's embrace, knowing it is His love alone, not one little bit of work on our part, that brings us this joy.

My brothers and sisters, live joyfully in the knowledge that the Holy Trinity has chosen you. That Jesus has ransomed you. That the Holy Spirit dwells in you. Beloved, live in great humility and unwavering commitment to our Savior.

Joe

John 6:28-29

Then they asked Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?"

"This is the work of God, that you believe in Him who He sent."

This short passage is taken soon after Jesus fed the 5,000 and walked on water. He had achieved a celebrity status and the groupies were out in full force. They wanted to know what they could do to "earn" a place in His entourage. In The preceding verses (John 6:26-27) Jesus exposes their hearts: "Most assuredly I say to you, you seek Me, not because because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which is perishable, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."

What intrigues me in this passage is not so much that the followers were enthralled with Jesus and wanted to join with Him (who wouldn't?), but they knew there was a price to pay. they asked about what work they needed to do to be able to perform the works of God. I can only imagine some folks pulling out their wallets, others prepared to get a higher education, and still others assuming they'd be cleaning the wounds of lepers.

Jesus answer to the "works" question is the same today as it was 2,000 years ago. "That you believe in Him who He sent." Believe in Jesus. Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and repent of your sins. Live a life of intimate relationship with Jesus.

For far too long we have been obsessed with the notion that we need to "do more" to earn heaven. The environment in which this passage was set was ideal for Jesus to pass on a new and revised "10 Commandments." The people had just been fed miraculously and they chased Jesus across the sea to know Him better, to become disciples. They asked for directions to become "like Him" - to perform miracles. All Jesus required was that they believe in Him.

We find their response had little to do with the nature of Jesus, and more to do with satisfying their stomachs. They wanted a sign. With their bellies full from the miracle of the previous day, they wanted Jesus to perform another miracle that they may believe in Him.

How often do we praise God for delivering us from a near accident, a lost job, a return to health, and in the next moment cry out wondering where He is, why He isn't making circumstances better for us? Before we shake our heads at the folks that hounded Jesus for a miracle, we should take a self-examination of our own hearts.

Jesus wants us to believe in Him. Not just a superficial nod of the head, but a deep-down, childlike trust in Him as the source of everything that will bring us into an intimate relationship with Him.

Believe in Jesus. That is the "work" Jesus requires of us. Be still, and know that He is God.

PSALM 131

"O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; Nor do I involve myself in great matters, Or in things too difficult for me, Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned chiild rests against his mother, My soul is like a weaned child within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forever."

I can only imagine David writing this Psalm on a warm spring day after surviving a season of conflict. This is a perfect passage to let one's experiences and emotions embrace the words and feeling behind the Psalm.

"My  soul is not proud, nor my eyes haughty" Perhaps David realized the futility in striving to accomplish great things without the Lord's blessing. Perhaps he set aside the "success" books and tapes and realized his nothingness apart from God's provision. Maybe he was coming off a period when he was humiliated in his ambition. One thing is for certain - David had a correct view of himself when he wrote this.

"Nor do I involve myself in great matters, or in things too difficult for me" I know I get worked up in Apologetics and in day to day affairs beyond the scope of my knowledge; I realize at some point in my building frustration and anxiety that my inner peace has slipped away. It is only after I acknowledge my limits that the raging seas are calmed and I can once again let God be God and surrender my needs to Him. I'm guessing David understood the secret to contentment was to simplify his quest for supreme knowledge.

Saint Francis of Assisi cautioned his followers not to seek higher learning (except for the pursuit of the knowledge of God). His fear was they would lose their humility and love of simplicity as they grew in stature from the perspective of the world. Within his lifetime he saw his fears realized within the brotherhood.

"Surely I have composed and quieted my soul" This is where my idea that it was a warm spring day when David wrote this. Wildflowers blooming, white, billowy clouds lazily crossing the sky, and peace of mind and spirit.

We try so hard for a composed and quieted soul through meditation, yoga, music, and medicine. I have found the periods in my life when I am most content are the times during and after Scripture reading when I let God in the Holy Spirit impress upon me that He loves me just as I am. Communion with God is quieting the mind and dwelling on His unfathomable love for us.

"Like a weaned child rests against his mother, my soul is like a weaned child within me" Can anyone imagine a more serene and secure picture than that of an infant resting in the arms of his mother? We have the honor of resting against the Sacred Heart of Jesus, bathed in the glow of his love and forgiveness.

"O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forever" David makes it abundantly clear where the source of contentment may be found - only in the Most Holy Trinity.

It is important to me to be clear that the postings on this website are my own thoughts and meditations. In all cases, the teaching of the Catholic Church is final authority and I gladly welcome correction when my thoughts are contradictory to the Church's teaching.