Ephesians 2:1-3. As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 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. 3 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.
We often forget the magnitude of the blessings we have received. Because of this forgetfulness, we can easily fall into unbelief, anxiety, and despair, eventually returning to the old ways of this world that lead to destruction. Yet the truth is that God made us alive. Even though we were spiritually dead because of our sins, God used Jesus as our True Priest to bridge the gap.
Scripture says, Christ “suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.” (1 Peter 3:18). This was not something God was obligated to do, and we certainly did not deserve it, yet He poured out His grace because of His infinite and everlasting love.
Paul devoted his life to grasping the breadth, length, height, and depth of the love of Christ (Ephesians 3:18). An old hymn once observed that even if the oceans were filled with ink and the skies were made of parchment, the love of God is so vast that it would drain the oceans dry, and the scroll could not contain the whole story.
When we truly understand the depth of this love, discouragement falls away. Instead, we find joy in obeying His Word and living a life that pleases Him, focusing our energy on saving lives through the power of the gospel.
Scripture teaches that God has set us free from the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who leads the whole world astray (Revelation 12:9). Not only are we free, but God has also given us spiritual authority over this enemy. He gives us the ultimate promise: the God of peace will soon crush Satan under our feet (Romans 16:20).
Just as God defeated the power of the enemy through the death and resurrection of Christ, He does the same for us today. This is an incredible privilege for the children of God, allowing us to let go of worry and remember that we possess the life and power of Jesus.
Because the Spirit of God lives in us, we no longer need to gratify the cravings of our flesh. We have every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. We are no longer under God’s wrath because we have been justified by His grace as a gift through the redemption in Christ Jesus. God presented Jesus as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith (Romans 3:24-25). This atoning sacrifice satisfied both God’s righteousness and His love for us. To those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, God promises to make their faith as solid as a rock and to grant full access to the keys of His kingdom (Matthew 16:18-19).
Best of all, our Lord Jesus promised to be with us as we go and make disciples of all nations, confirming His Word through our lives (Matthew 28:18-20). While this alone is more than enough, He promised even more. He declared that no one who leaves home or family for the sake of the gospel will fail to receive a hundredfold in this present age, along with eternal life in the age to come (Mark 10:29-30).
To our Father, evangelism and missions come first. When we answer His call and fully commit to His greatest desire—saving lives—He provides everything else: “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33)
Prayer. Father, I thank You for calling me as Your evangelist. In everything I think, say, and do, may it be for Your kingdom and Your righteousness. I trust that Your power is working in me and through me to reach those who are lost. In Jesus’ name, Amen.