But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Eph. 2:4-7) God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance (Rm. 2:4)
Gracious heavenly Father, meditating on these words from Paul is like trying to stand under Niagara Falls with my mouth wide open. You overwhelm us with your lavish love, multiplied blessings, and incomparable grace for us in Christ. I’m capable of taking in only a tiny portion of the mighty waterfall of all this gospel goodness.
But today, what really arrests my attention the most is the image of being raised from the dead and seated in Christ so that throughout eternity you might demonstrate your kindness to us in Jesus. That absolutely fries the circuit board of my imagination, throws fuel on the fire of my longings, and reveals the paucity of my faith. Forever and ever, you are committed to showing us kindness. How can we not love and serve you with our whole being?
Father, the revelation of your kindness touches something very deep inside of me in this season of life. Maybe it’s because of how little kindness I see in the world today. Maybe it’s because of how much I long to be a genuinely kind man. Maybe it’s because it contradicts so many wrong images I’ve had of you so much of my life. By the power of the gospel, continue to rid my heart of all the false notions I’ve entertained about you.
There is no other God who would raise up dead sinners for an eternity of lavishing on them more and more of his kindness. I’m left speechless, breathless, and ever so grateful. May your immeasurable kindness leads us to very observable repentance, even this very day. Forgive us and free us from our irritable and impatient, critical and controlling ways. May we love as we are loved. So very Amen I pray, in Jesus’ glorious and grace-full name.
