Ephesians 2:1-13

1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

11Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

As we go through this time of the year when the lights and advertisements lure us into buying too many gifts and spending too much money; as we plan our Christmas dinner, wishing all of our family was still together; don’t look back, don’t reminisce, or be sad about the past.... remember what Jesus said, in Luke 9:62 “Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Dwell on the above scriptures, Eph. 2:13, and Eph. 2:6, and Eph. 2:8; and remember Jesus did all this for us, so that “8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”.

Thank You Father God, for loving us so much, that You would give us Your Son, Jesus! Thank You Jesus, for loving us so much, for Your obedience to God, to obey His Word, and His mighty plan to defeat the devil, and to suffer for us, to die and rise again, and that we are right up there with You, even now, according to Eph. 6 - “6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

We truly do have so much to be thankful for, for we have Jesus!