August 16 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

In his official capacity as an apostle of Christ, Paul ends his letter to the Ephesians with the blessing of the Lord. Verse 24 is similar to the benediction we receive at the close of a worship service. The blessing is not a mere wish; it is an assurance. We go home with God’s promise to bless us and keep us. The blessing is for the whole congregation and each of us will receive it if we take hold of it in faith.

The doctrine of grace has a prominent place within the entire letter to the Ephesians. The word “grace” appears at least twelve times. It is the very first word of the formal greeting of the letter and it is the final thought in the closing chapter. What is said about the grace given to the congregation at Ephesus helps us understand what the word means. By the grace of God the church at Ephesus was called out of the world of darkness to be a church of the living Lord Jesus Christ. In the opening words of this letter the apostle Paul sings of the grace Christ has lavished on the church. He writes, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us...” (Ephesians 1:7–8)

The grace of God is strongly connected to the forgiveness of our sins. Grace is God’s free gift which He puts into our hands. The position we have with the Lord is not the result of our endeavours. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” (Eph 2:8) Grace holds together every congregation of Christ. The grace of God enables us to fulfill what the Lord requires of us.

Grace flows to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love undying. The grace of the Lord is not offered to a certain segment of the congregation but is promised to all, young and old, husbands and wives, married and single, masters and slaves, parents and children, rich and poor. According to the rule of the covenant, God’s grace must be responded to in faith. Those who know of the riches of God’s grace are to seek all their life in the Lord Jesus Christ. Take a look and see how grace is woven into the fabric of your entire life.