Have you ever felt that you were in such a bad situation that you were beyond rescue? Or in such dire straits that you were beyond recovery?
Paul, the apostle, only recognized after the fact how far gone he had been. Like anyone else, before he knew Christ as his Savior, he had been spiritually dead in his sins and transgressions. And that’s how it is sometimes — we’re already dead, and we don’t even realize it.
But regardless of whether or not we recognize in the moment how desperate our spiritual situation is, or how far beyond rescue we actually are, God wants us to know the reality is that we are never beyond his reach.
He can get to us. He can rescue our hopeless hearts and redeem our sin-wrecked minds. Not even spiritual death can separate us from his powerful love. Because redemption and resurrection are Jesus’ specialties.
And by grace, through faith, he does save us — by hanging on a cross and by rising from the dead!
However bad your situation might be right now, know this! You are never beyond hope or beyond rescue, as long as Jesus is in the picture.
And as the Son of God, the Savior of the world, he is always in the picture!
“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, NIV).
Our Bible reading for Wednesday, September 23, is Isaiah 55:1 – 57:13, Ephesians 2:1-22 and Psalm 110:1-7.
Jesus, thank you for your grace. Thank you that you always give me hope, because you are the master of redemption, and resurrection is your specialty. I am a sinner, deserving of your eternal punishment. But because of Jesus, I can now rejoice in the certain hope of everlasting life with you.
Header image based on "Peace promise" by Jan Smith, CC By 2.0
pastorjeffgunn 
Our Bible reading for Wednesday, September 23, is Isaiah 55:1 – 57:13, Ephesians 2:1-22 and Psalm 110:1-7.
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 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. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.”
Ephesians 2:1-3 NIV
Heavenly Father, your truths are music in my ears. I come before you with a humble heart and confess my sins. Not only how I’ve failed you today, but knowing that failing tomorrow and the next day is inevitable. I deserve nothing but the worst of your wrath, because I am the worst of sinners. Lord your truth tells me there is only love in Christ as we live in him. His sacrifice a gift of your grace has done it all for me and those I love the most. Thank you Lord for this amazing blessing.
“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.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-10 NIV
~Paul Montenieri
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