Week 2, Monday, Ephesians 2:1-3

Posted on Sep 19, 2022 in Devotions, General, Today, Yesterday |

A Devotional Journey through the Book of Ephesians

Never Forget

by Pastor Paul Georgulis

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-3

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ²in 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 (New International Version)

In these verses, Paul describes the old, sinful nature of followers of Jesus. He describes them prior to coming to faith in Christ as dead – not as unfulfilled or incomplete – but dead. Their spirits were dead because they had broken relationships with God, the source of life.

When we ask Jesus to forgive us of our sins, we can take comfort in knowing that He takes our sins and removes them as far from us as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). If this is the case, then why is Paul writing here to remind the Ephesian believers and everyone else who received this letter – including us – of past sins? He was not writing to remind people of their past to condemn them or to make them feel bad about their past life choices, but to give them a greater understanding and appreciation of the work of God in Jesus. It is important for us – as followers of Jesus – to never forget our pasts – the conditions from which Jesus saved us. Those memories, though sometimes painful, will inspire us to thank Jesus for all He has done for us. So, remembering our past sins will actually help us to appreciate and love Jesus more. Remember, but don’t turn back to and repeat.

Prayer:

Father, I thank you for saving me from my past, present, and future sins. I know that without you, I would be hopeless and lost, meandering down a dark path to nowhere good. But you, Lord, are good. You lit up my path, showed me the error in my ways and that I was empty without you in my life, and you filled that void. Help me to remember my past, but to not repeat it. And Lord, I also thank you that you don’t remember it – that the moment I asked for forgiveness, you threw my sins so far away and chose to only see the new me – the me that you have forgiven and redeemed.

In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.