This Is Nor Your Own Doing — It is the Gift of God

This meditation is based on a passage for June 5, 2011 in the Daily Lectionary Year 1 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).

Text: Ephesians 2:1-10

Reflection and Question: Paul is speaking here to the Christian Ephesians and we have the privilege of listening in so that we receive these encouraging words too. The “you” and the “us” Paul is referring to is every one of us who believes in Jesus Christ. That Jesus saves us is a gift from God. Our response is to do good works “which God has prepared beforehand to be our way of life.” What Paul says here is true for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender believers along with all other Christians. All of us, says Paul, are made by God — on what grounds, then, can any believer be excluded?

Prayer: Dearest Jesus, Paul claims we are all children of wrath and yet God, Your Father, has saved us through faith, not works, so that we may not boast. May we grasp this kindness, applying our energy to the good works God has for us to do. Amen.