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Daily Devotions

Ephesians

Ephesians 
Day 
Day 23

"Which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence…"

Text: Ephesians 1:8

AMAZING GRACE

John Newton, the author of the famous hymn, ‘Amazing Grace’ would heartily applaud the emphasis that the apostle Paul made on the subject of grace. Newton discovered the grace of God in his life and found glorious salvation in Christ. He looked at the wretched life of sin he had maintained, and knew that his salvation was due only to the Amazing Grace of God.

“Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believed.”
John Newton

THE APPLICATION OF GRACE TO OUR HEARTS

As Paul dwelt on the subject of the “riches of (God’s) grace” he found himself thinking of how God caused His grace to be understood and appreciated.

1. God often unappreciated

Not everyone appreciates and adores the Lord as Paul did. In fact, it is not incorrect to say that God and His wonderful grace are often left unappreciated. He is slighted. He is neglected. He is rejected. He is sworn at. A woeful testimony of the soul of the human race!

2. The abounding and overflowing grace of God

How does God respond to man’s shameful treatment of His grace? Paul praised God for the way He “made (His grace) to abound toward us”. The beauty and the glory of God’s grace stand out even more significantly when we appreciate the manner He has shown such abounding compassion.

3. “Abounded” (“perisseuo”)

This word “abounded” is closely related to the word “riches”.

a) The Extent of God’s grace

This is described simply as “rich”.

b) The Expression of God’s grace

This is described as “abounded”. The idea of “abundance” or “overflowing” is consistent with the riches of God’s grace.

A CLEAR EXPRESSION OF EXTENDING THIS ABOUNDING GRACE

Matthew, one of the apostles of Jesus would bear testimony of how that rich grace of God was extended to him. He first met Jesus at a dinner function.

“Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in that house,
that behold, many tax-collectors and sinners came and sat down
with Him and His disciples… (and Jesus said…)
‘I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.'”
MATTHEW 9:10, 13