TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins. Ephesians 2:1
Read: Ephesians 2:1-3
Listen: Ephesians 2
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Death is uncomfortable. It’s part of the human experience, but most would rather not talk about it. Yet, when Paul describes the Ephesians before they came to know Jesus, Paul uses the language of death. They lived in death. They had no way to bring themselves to life spiritually. Something that is dead has no life. There’s no pulse. There’s no chance for growth. Dead is dead. Paul reminds the Ephesians that they were dead in their transgressions and sins. They were dead, trapped and in trouble. They had no hope and deserved only the punishment for their wrong actions.
Watch this video clip as Pastor Jeff Manion tells us Paul’s reminder is a critical component of the gospel. All of us begin life as spiritually dead. We’re all incapable of bringing ourselves to life. Some of us recognize this easily. We look back and see a wake of pain and regret. Others of us may look back and feel like we’ve tried hard to do the right things. But trying hard to do the right thing doesn’t bring something dead back to life. We were all spiritually dead. Spiritual life isn’t about what we have or haven’t done. It’s about accepting the good news of Jesus. That’s why Paul uses the past tense. They were dead, but now they know Jesus. The same can be true of us today.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
If you’ve given your life to Jesus, thank him for not leaving you dead. As you go through your day, intentionally remind yourself how bad it was, while also thanking God for not leaving you there. If you’ve never accepted Jesus’s gift of life, email us at btw@adabible.org to start a conversation about what it means to find life in Jesus.
2023 SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
Join us all of 2023 developing a different spiritual practice each month. SPIRITUAL PRACTICES are intentional regular activities to deepen our relationship with God and mold us to be more like Jesus.
February is SABBATH. Keep track of our spiritual practices at beyondtheweekend.org/spiritualpractices.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
