Verse for today – “so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:7).”

Where do you picture yourself in 10,000 years? Are you dead and gone; annihilated into oblivion as some would have us believe? Or are you alive, and alert, and young; enjoying the kindness of God? Today’s verse declares God’s reason for the salvation we discussed yesterday. God saved Christians (all who genuinely believe in Him) and seated them in the heavens, so that for all of eternity He could display His grace to them through His kindness.

Yesterday we read that God is rich in mercy and great in love; today we understand that He is also RICH IN GRACE! Grace is something God gives to us. It is free despite being underserved! We will read about that tomorrow. Today, meditate on this: God’s grace is seen in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus! In other words, God’s kindness displays, or highlights, or reveals God’s grace. Please indulge me by reading a similar description of this from Titus 3:3-7 in the Bible:

“For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts, and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” This description of God’s grace toward us is breathtaking. God’s grace takes us from being outlaws from His presence to be His dear children! His grace is lavish and deserves our sincere gratitude and worship. Praise God for His grace AND for His kindness.