“But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love for us…” Eph. 2:4
Heavenly Father, Ephesians 2:4 is an incomplete sentence in the Greek text; but it’s the incomplete sentence that completes us. It affirms three great realities that meet us where we are and take us where only you can.
“But God” – Claims every challenge, crises, and crucible we will experience until heaven. When we’re feeling and believing, “Everything is broken, hopeless, and impossible.”—the Gospel shows us and reminds us, “But God.” Abba, you are the great disrupter and interrupter, and your grace is the greatest rescue and hope-fuel ever. When you “but-in” it’s always timely, appropriate, and with a beautiful outcome in mind.
“Being rich in mercy” – This is who you are, Abba: You are “rich”—not meager, mercurial, or miserly, but over-the-top generous. We’ don’t have a present family scenario, dire straight, stuck relationship, health crisis, haunting regret, or “impossibility” that is too old, too hard, or too anything for you. Hallelujah!
“His great love for us” – This is the whole Gospel-enchilada, grace-garden, and never-ending-reality. Because of what you’ve done for us, Jesus, you have “great” love for us—not “just” love, but humongous, ginormous, unwavering love for us. Your love is lavish (1Jn.3:1), never-ending (Lam.3:22-23), unfathomable and multi-dimensional (Eph3:18-19), protective (Ps.5:11-12), forgiving and full of grace (Neh.9:17). Abba, keep “but-ing in” all the way Home. So Very Amen.
