Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace Ephesians 1:1-7
Chosen in Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. How Amazing is that!!
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
I cannot explain how or why a perfect, Holy, Righteousness God would before He ever formed this world would have looked down through the corridors of time and have chosen to love me with all my flaws. He knew me, He loved me and He chose me to be His child. He paid the penalty for all my sins on an old rugged cross; that, I might be called His Beloved, Redeemed Child. Every day, I am awed by the majesty of His creation. The beauty of a sunrise, the way the sun creates colors surrounding the darkest of clouds, the magic of life. The stars, the moon, the animals, the waters; I am humbled to think He cares about every tear I have ever cried.
When I consider the magnitude of Grace that God displayed in loving me; then, I must see others in this world with that same degree of Grace.
In Christ we are no longer defined by our deepest scar or the darkest, deepest hidden crevice of our selfish, evil hearts; instead we are defined by His perfect Righteousness.
Think about that and then ask yourself, what about my brother or sister in Christ. How quickly do we judge another or walk away from someone because they have faltered in their steps along this journey of life.
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32
So let me end with this poem I wrote a long time ago.
In Christ, I am God’s own Beloved
By Effie Darlene Barba
Accused, Condemned in eyes of men
Rejected, hated for my sin
No one stopped to see my heart
Cast aside some broken part
That no one cared to see inside
The scars and sorrows that abide
A heart so filled with hopes and dreams
Of meadows green and crystal streams
Lay shattered, broken cast away
With nothing good or kind to say
Chorus
Then God’s Dear Grace that loved me so
Looked deep within and bid to know
Each crevice of my heart and soul
Each broken piece to then make whole
In Christ I am set free from sin
My guilt and shame all taken in
And bore upon that rugged cross
My strength to stand though all else loss
My sins all covered by His blood
In Christ, I am God’s own Beloved
How quickly men’s own selfish pride
Does cast away and cast aside
A fallen one—a broken heart
Who needs your hand to help them start?
Christ had come to heal the lame
To lift their guilt and take their shame
He called the sinners to His side
To know His love-in Him abide
So why do we not give our hand
To help a fallen one to stand
So, prideful man with heart so small
Be careful lest you too shall fall
Chorus
For it was God’s dear Grace that loved me so
Looked deep within and bid to know
Each crevice of my heart and soul
Each broken piece to then make whole
In Christ I am set free from sin
My guilt and shame all taken in
And bore upon that rugged cross
My strength to stand though all else loss
My sins all covered by His blood
In Christ, I am God’s own Beloved
[bctt tweet=”Let us love & forgive others by the same measure we are loved & forgiven by God” username=”effiedarlene”]
[tweetthis]God’s Grace is Bigger than my deepest Scar, His love greater than my sin[/tweetthis]
[bctt tweet=”When we know God’s Grace, how can we ever fail to forgive others their faltering steps.” username=”effiedarlene”]
I would love to here about your journey; please scroll down to comment below.
Photo Used is Courtesy of my dear friend Jamie Easley
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2016
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.