I love the book of Ephesians. It is rich with so many Biblical treasures and affirmations and it is a book I could spend an entire year studying. I have enjoyed reading through this powerful book in our daily Bible readings. What I love most about the book of Ephesians is how the Lord demonstrates His pursuit of His people. He is divinely active and relentless to establish intimate relationships with the people He so dearly loves.
Over and over again in Ephesians we see the active work of God: He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ, He has adopted us as his own, He has made known to us the mystery of His will, He has chosen us for the praise of His glory, He has called us into the riches of His glorious inheritance, He has made us alive in Christ and has offered eternal redemption, and He has lavished his grace upon us. Ephesians 2:13 tells us, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.” Praise God for His unending pursuit of those of us who were once dead in our trespasses and sins. He has made us alive by His love, grace and power. What an amazing mystery and miracle!
Right now I am reading a book called From Jihad to Jesus by Jerry Rassamni. It is about an ex-militant Muslim who fought Christians during the Lebanese Civil War. In his attempt to refute the Bible as a Muslim, the Lord captured his heart and he eventually turned from Islam and became a faithful follower of Christ. While describing his search for the truth, Jerry exposed the pagan roots of the Muslim god and the feet of clay of its founder. Through reading the Bible, Jerry discovered that God Almighty is a God of love, mercy and grace. These are concepts that are not taught in Islam. They are taught to live and die by the sword and to pursue vengeance for all who do not believe as they do. Although the Islam holy book, the Qur’an contains certain stories and passages from the Bible, it leaves out the instrument of redemption that the God of the Bible requires. This is what Jerry Rassamni describes as the Great Divide between the Bible and the Qur’an. Through Jerry’s study of the Bible, he was convicted of sin and was led into a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
I am so thankful for the power of the gospel. The Word of God is alive and active and it can deliver a prisoner of darkness to into God’s marvelous light and freedom. Reading Jerry’s book has given me much cause for thanksgiving that I serve a risen and active Lord who is full of mercy and grace.
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Christ…” (Eph. 1:8-9)
