In Ephesians, Paul is writing to the well, Ephesians. Ephesus was a land where the Greek god Artemis was prevalent. It was also home to a large population of Jews. When some of the Jews hardened their hearts and started persecuting Christians around them, Paul started to spread the message to the Gentiles. (Courtesy of http://www.christianinconnect.com/ephesians.htm) I am of Gentile origin so when I read this, i was relieved and happy. (Hey, beggars cannot be proud, ok? And besides, pride's exactly what I have too much of anyway. But the beauty of it is that God didn't strike me off his fancy party list. He saw me (saw us!) for what I was and still accepted me.)
Perhaps some people have trouble with seeing themselves as inherently bad as Christianity always seems to suggest. I mean, I have that problem. Its the thought that "Am I THAT bad? I mean, I do charity and stuff and well, I just don't think I'm BAD. I don't murder and stuff. ", that causes a little bit of brain frownage for me. But this mindset comes because we are again looking into the telescope the wrong way. We are thinking with the mind of philosophers and theorists. To understand the ways and the heart of God, won't we have to look from His perspective? It's not that questioning God is not allowed. (In fact, questioning is an essential habit to knowing him better and an awesome indicator among many that you have a 2 way relationship.) It's understanding before you judge. And against such love, you can stand?
Paul has met God, and that's why I believe his words are written here and shown for all to see as a representation of the truth as told by a man who has seen through God's perspective and is relating it the best way a man can to man.
{For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.} - Paul to the Ephesians, Eph 2:9-10
That last part right there, "to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Woah.
Grace: Favor/Good will. When you have done wrong to a person and the person not only does not hold it against you for you callousness but goes to the point of extending help to you like you are his beloved. That's Grace. And that's what you and I received.
At this point, the commonly used phrase 'All glory be to God' is most appropriate, I think. THANK YOU, JESUS!
Hungry and satisfied and happy,
Jo.
{Meaning of the name 'Joanne': God is Gracious. }
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