April 20, 2025
Ephesians 1:3-10; 2:8-10; 1 Peter 1:3-9 — By God’s grace and through His mercy, we have been saved. Grace is a gift, and it is by His mercy that we receive it. We receive this gift from God through faith. Grace is a gift from God, who forgets our wrongs and loves us as though we never sinned. Grace is His love toward us while we are still sinners. God’s grace is his goodness and kindness toward those who deserve only punishment. His love for us is always unmerited and undeserved. We can do nothing to earn grace. It is always a gift that’s freely given. God’s mercy describes his compassionate forgiveness and kindness toward the miserable and afflicted and his desire to help them. Mercy is when punishment is not given to us when we deserve it. We all are sinners and therefore, deserving of judgment. We need both grace and mercy to have new life and be with God forever. God’s grace is His love toward us while we were still sinners, and His mercy is the gift of heaven to us forever, when our sin would send us to hell. In Jesus Christ, grace and mercy came and work together to save us. He is the physical revelation of God’s grace and mercy. Our response to God’s grace and mercy should be joy, thanksgiving, holy living, and to be merciful to others as our Father is merciful.
This is part of the 40 Days of Prayer Series 2025, which is based on the Christian & Missionary Alliance’s annual 40 Days of Prayer Series. However, our church decided to do this during the Lent season instead of at the beginning of the year.
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