[When I came to the close of my recent series on Ephesians I wanted to do something to help my congregation carry the message of this great book with them. So I wrote 30 Daily Devotionals and handed them out in a booklet.

In the meantime, here's the first devotional, just some food for thought for everyone. Let me know what you think okay?]

Day 1—Ephesians 1: 2

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:2 (NIV)

If you look at something long enough, you cease to see it. We’ve all experienced the truth of this. What was once thought beautiful now goes largely unnoticed.

We have seen Paul start so many of his letters using the expression “grace and peace” that we don’t see it anymore either. But we must force our minds to focus on this short opening line. Because it contains two vital components for living a spiritual life.

One almost everyone admits to needing and wanting, the other is often either ignored or denied. We all want and need peace, but often reject the very thing that produces it—grace.

You cannot have peace with God until you first accept and experience His grace. It’s not until your lay down your pride, your belief in your own ability to please God, and accept that your entire relationship with God is based on Christ’s grace that peace is possible.

Once I know that my acceptance with God is a gift that Christ purchased on the cross, and then accept it gratefully, then I can really experience peace with God.

Paul does not begin with this phrase simply because it was traditional. He does so because it’s the perfect beginning to this letter. This is the one and only start line on the journey to Authentic Spirituality.

Paul proves this by spending three chapters showing us all that Christ has done for us in Christ. Over and over again we are going to see the marvelous grace of God in Christ.

If you want to understand and benefit from Ephesians this is the critical point. Without a proper understanding and experience of grace, all the Bible knowledge in the world won’t produce one iota of peace!

So, what is your relationship with God built upon? Works, knowledge, church attendance, charity, community involvement? If you want peace lay all that down and accept salvation and new life from Christ, Who said, “It is finished.” He paid for it—we must now accept it through faith.

Reflecting on the Word

Take a few moments today and honestly evaluate what you are basing your relationship with God on.

Is it works, self, or the wonderful grace of Jesus?

Spend some time in prayer accepting God’s gift, and allowing His peace to flood your soul.

Responding to the Word

Now that I’ve renewed my reliance on the Grace of Christ alone as the foundation of my relationship with God, what can I do today or this week to express and live out this incredible reality of the Christian life?