This Monday, I’m meditating on Ephesians 1 verses 7 and 8,

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight.

I am taken back by the phrases “riches of his grace” and “lavished upon us” because often I feel undeserving. I think, “this is too good to be true!” and I go through my days forgetting what that means and how it implicates my life. No matter how far I've come in my walk with the Lord, I need to rehearse the truths of the gospel daily.

I take grace for granted as I rush through daily tasks, missing the beauty in everyday moments as I’m hurried along by to-do lists, the needs of my family, and the never-ending mountain of laundry. But still he gives us grace.

The Lord in his kindness and goodness pours out his lavish favor on undeserving sinners like us.

It’s grace that unites us to faith by Christ.

It’s grace that calls us and gives us new birth.

It’s grace that we believe.

It’s grace that we receive forgiveness of our trespasses.

It’s grace that carries us, sanctifies us, and empowers us to walk in faith.

And it’s grace in the everyday moments. He lavishes on us not only everything we need for life and godliness, but he lavishes on us simple, everyday gifts. In the toothless smile of my seven year old. In the way the light shines through our 100 year old windows. In the dimple of my four year old. In the growth of vegetables from our garden. In the messy kisses from my three year old. In beholding a beautiful sunset. In my husbands laugh. A gift.

It’s all grace.

God chose us, Jesus redeems us and the spirit sanctifies us. What a gift! We are grafted into the family of God because of Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection. We are made perfect in the sight of God, not because of anything that we've done, but because of what's been done on our behalf. Jesus is our advocate. And even now, the Spirit intercedes for us in our weakness.

God does not give us something that makes us blessed, but he blesses us by giving us himself. -Fred Sanders

This is the conclusion I am brought to after mediating on Ephesians 1:

The Father plans it, the Son purchases it, the Spirit preserves it, all to the praise of his glory. What greater wisdom and glory could we see in our great redemption? Soli deo gloria!

This post includes our Scripture Mediation Cards, which you can view here.

This Monday I’m meditating on Hebrews 12 verses 1 and 2.

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.

The first thing that stuck out to me was that running with endurance takes discipline. Like a runner, the Christian must be in constant motion toward the goal, despite opposition. This demands strenuous effort and endurance, which is learned from constant discipline.

Sometimes I think that if I could just be “more disciplined” my life would be easier. If I could get up earlier, be more consistent in the discipling of my children, stick to a budget (it never happens) then my days would be effortless.

The Christian character of discipline in itself is not a bad thing, but when I am putting my hope in the outcome of those disciplines, it becomes problematic. We must work hard to strengthen our faith to endure the race. That means seeking the Lord daily in His Word and prayer. It's seeking fellowship among other believers to be encouraged and edified, and sometimes that means we must welcome rebuke and embrace trials.

In verse two it says “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith” – you see, things get challenging when we take our eyes off Jesus and instead look to ourselves. I often look to myself for strength and to others for approval. I place my hope in being more disciplined, or having a better routine with the kids, a clean home, a fool proof meal plan and all my ducks in a row.

The author of Hebrews encourages us to stop looking around or within and instead look to Jesus. He took the burden of our sins and made our running and our striving easy and light. When we set our eyes firmly on him, we will not grow weary in the fight against sin and in the race to persevere in faith.

The good news of the gospel is that we have already been made perfect through the blood of Christ.

Imagine what would happen if we looked to Jesus every day. Every weight would fall off and every sin would untangle from us. Each glance at Jesus would strengthen us to endure and finish well.

When you’re feeling tempted to return to patterns of relying on self and people pleasing, look up. Look to Him. The founder and perfecter of our faith.

This post includes our Scripture Meditation Cards, which you can view here.