Your salvation: a message to “future generations”
Daily Scripture
Ephesians 2:4-7
4-5 However, God is rich in mercy. He brought us to life with Christ while we were dead as a result of those things that we did wrong. He did this because of the great love that he has for us. You are saved by God’s grace! 6 And God raised us up and seated us in the heavens with Christ Jesus. 7 God did this to show future generations the greatness of his grace by the goodness that God has shown us in Christ Jesus.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
“God is rich in mercy.” “You are saved by God’s grace.” That was the beating heart of our faith, said the letter to the Ephesians. God saved us FROM a broken, self-seeking way of life. But that wasn’t the end of the story; it was just the beginning. What Jesus called “the kingdom of God” aims to restore not just individuals, but this whole broken world to God-given wholeness. God didn’t save any of us just to do something nice for us. If in fact “God did this to show future generations the greatness of his grace,” then a part of our response to God’s grace must surely be to thoughtfully seek to leave a legacy that plays a role in showing future generations how good God has been to us.
- John Wesley, Methodism’s founder, applied Ephesians 2 to everyday life in his “second general rule”: “By doing good; by being in every kind merciful after their power; as they have opportunity, doing good of every possible sort, and, as far as possible, to all men.” Are there “sorts” of goodness you didn’t used to practice, but do now as a Christ follower? Let Wesley’s phrase “doing good of every possible sort” spark your creativity. What new sorts of goodness, not just for the present but for future generations, might God be nudging you to consider making a part of your life and planning? (There are many ways to prepare your legacy. If you’d like ideas from The Church of the Resurrection, click here.)
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for all that you have saved me from. Guide me day by day into a way of living that honors and carries out the purposes you saved me for, now and in the future. Amen.
GPS Insights
Carol Cartmill
Over the past few weeks in worship, we have been introduced to people who choose to live their lives to be a blessing to others, along with women and men who have gone on to glory but left behind incredible legacies that will continue to bring blessings to future generations. These saintly examples show us a truer meaning of life, one that puts God and the interests of others at the center and generates goodness, hope and joy. The antidote to much of the brokenness we face in the world today is living a life of generosity-–in thought, word and deed.
Our natural bent leads us to be “me-centered.” Our inclination is to look at the world around us and all that happens and weigh the impact everything has on us. Christ is calling us to look at our circumstances with different eyes. When we shift our focus, our question becomes what is God calling me to do to help in this situation? What might I do that would contribute to a more positive outcome? How can I be used to remind others of God’s grace and goodness?
This year, as we enter the season of Advent, I am seeking to reorient my life toward activities that will bring about wholeness and restoration. It begins with me and the daily discipline of reading Scripture and prayer. It then moves to my relationships and expressing love and gratitude to my family, co-workers, and neighbors. It continues with acts of service and generosity. The church has a variety of ways to help me live into my aspirations. If you need ideas, visit Church of the Resurrection (cor.org).
It is indeed by grace that we have been saved. Every day we have the opportunity to pay it forward as we seek to lead grace-filled, generous lives!
