Devotion 24 March 2026

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2: 4,5

READING: Ephesians 2: 1-10

The text chosen for today holds some of the great words of our faith, words which are part of the vital essence of what it means to be a follower of Christ – love, mercy and grace. 

Paul describes in verse 8 the doctrine of salvation by grace; it starts with the reason or cause of our salvation, which is the love, mercy and grace of God, and the means by which it is received, which is faith; and Paul then explains that this faith cannot be achieved by our own power or will or good deeds, but it is a gift of God’s grace (v8).

This sums up what makes Christ’s way different – it is not through anything that we can do, nor is there any way we can earn, release from the trap of a meaningless life of recurring wrongdoing.

“Love” is a concept we know but “mercy” and “grace” are words we use often but may not always understand.

Mercy is a legal idea usually connected to convicted criminals appealing for leniency – for the mercy of the court.

God did not have to forgive our sins. No “law of the universe,” or some such thing, obliged Him to apply Christ’s atoning sacrifice to us, to forgive us for the sins of all humanity that remain in us, or our own personal wrongdoing. But He does. The mercy we speak of here, then, is not legal; it is out of love. He is a merciful God, and we are but recipients of his loving mercy.

Grace can be seen in this way: because of our Holy Spirit-given and -sustained faith in Christ, God sees us not as we are but as Christ is. He no longer holds our sin and wickedness against us but instead looks at us and, for the sake of Christ, says well done, my good and faithful servant. His grace is an attitude on His part where He showers his love on us, and calls us His child.

Grace is the work of God, faith is God giving us the ability to see the work, believe it, and receive it. The only thing we have to do is open ourselves to Him and accept Him.

So why does God have mercy on us and shower his grace over us?

The reason is found in the first part of our verse for today. “But because of his great love for us…” God loves us. He created us. He sustains us in this daily life. He wants peace, happiness, and everlasting life for us. Verse 5 tell us that believers who were "were dead" in their sins are then “made alive in Christ”. Our God not only wants us to be ‘good’ but he wants us to enjoy in every way the life that He has given us and in which He sustains us.

Prayer

In Jesus’ name, I thank You for Your grace, mercy and love,

as I am made alive in Christ. Amen