Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 9


JUST THE TICKET

READ:
Ephesians 1:7
____________________________________________________________________________________________
In him we have...
the forgiveness of
sins, in accordance
with the riches
of God's grace
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When a police officer stopped a woman because her young daughter was riding in a car without the required booster seat, he could have written her a ticket for a traffic violation. Instead, he asked the mother and daughter to meet him at a nearby store where he personally paid for the needed car seat. The mother was going through a difficult time and could not afford to buy a seat.

Although the woman should have received a fine for her misdemeanor, she walked away with a gift instead. Anyone who knows Christ has experienced something similar. All of us deserve a penalty for breaking God's laws (ECCL. 7:20). This favor excuses us from the ultimate consequence for our sin, which is death and eternal separation from God (ROM6:23). "in [Jesus] we have ...the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace" (EPH. 1:7).

Some refer to grace as "love in action." When the young mother experienced this, she later remarked, "I will be forever grateful!...And as soon as I can afford it I will be paying it forward." This grateful and big-hearted response to the officer's gift is an inspiring example for those of us who have received the gift of God's grace!
___________Jennifer Benso Schuldt

**Dear Father, thank You for giving us what we don't deserve.
You have forgiven my sins and provided a way for me to be
reconciled to You through the gift of Your Son.
Help me to always be grateful for Your grace.

******************Today's Bible Reading __ Ephesians 1:1-10**********************
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To God's holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ
Jesus:

2 Grace and peace to you from God our father and the
Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual
blessing in Christ. 4 For He chose us in Him before the creation
of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he
predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ,
in accordance with his pleasure and will__ 6 to the praise of
his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One
he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace

8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,

9 He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his
good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into
effect when the times reach their fulfillment__to bring unity to
all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
The city of Ephesus was "the capital of ...the
western part of Asia Minor. It was colonized principally from
Athens. In the time of the Romans it bore the title of 'the first and
greatest metropolis of Asia.' It was distinguished for the Temple
of Diana, who there had her chief shrine; and for its theatre,
which was the largest in the world, capable of containing 50,000
spectators. It was, like all ancient theatres, open to the sky. here
were exhibited the fights of wild beasts and of men with beasts
(1 C or. 4:9, 9:24, 15:32). Many Jews took up their residence in
this city, and here the seeds of the gospel were sown immediately
after Pentecost (ACTS 2:9. 6:9)." ____Easton's Bible Dictionary

[Dora]

Cool!