Relieved

DEVOTION
EPHESIANS
RELIEVED

Eph 2:1-5
2:1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved.
NIV
How can I separate any of this? I simply cannot. It is all one long thought which transcends a time of my past to the present. I was the head sinner if there is such a thing, and although at the time, having been so angry with God, at least I must have been, I actually refused to acknowledge his existence. I refused to believe there was a God and all the organized religious hypocrites wanted was the money in my pocket. I even remember the phrase I used to say, “they just want me to pay to pray”. I certainly lived in the ways of this world and although I refused to admit it then I must have been serving the ruler of the kingdom of air, because without question I had a spirit of disobedience. I absolutely spent much if not all of my time gratifying the cravings of my sinful nature. But that was the past and now is the present and I am a changed person. Not because of me, of course, no not because of me at all. But it is because of his great love for me. Wow! His great love, just to consider that phrase is an extreme thought. Even though I was such a bad apple, God still loved and loves me. It boggles my mind. Even now, when I fail him so, he still loves me. I cannot say that of some people I have known. We I failed them, they hatred me, but not God. He loves me even now as I still fail his standards. But how can I ever be perfect? I cannot and that is why I need Jesus Christ. By faith in him I am no longer an object of wrath and dead. I am alive, I am saved! Christ is my perfection; he is the ultimate sacrifice to justify the standard of God the Father. In Christ I am. Through God’s grace and grace alone. I am so relieved