Thursday, August 11, 2011

Why is God so good to us ol’ country boys?

“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 2:6-7

It was a hot droopy late July Sunday evening; the end of a two service Sunday. I was standing in the church parking lot watching the sun go down—sweating. I was visiting with a friend, a Western Minnesota farmer. We marveled at how good God has been to us even though we do not deserve this goodness; undeserved merit—grace and mercy.

In Ephesians 2, Paul writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit says, “God raised us up with Christ” a thought I cannot fully grasp, “and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” Wow! Why did He do that? He doesn’t need our company or companionship. He is totally self-sufficient. He doesn’t need us in any way.

But He raised us up with Christ, seats us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus (by Christ alone, no one or nothing else). He does it; I quote, “In order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches in His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

God is and has been good to us to show the ages that two ol’ undeserving country boys are seated with Jesus to show the ages His grace and kindness to us.

Why is God good to us? It is because we are His sons. We deserve nothing but His wrath but He demonstrates to us and the ages His “incomparable riches of His grace expressed in His kindness.”

In light of all of this, we should be face first in the dirt shouting “praise God; halleluiah.” Praise God from all blessings flow.

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