the    sides

That’s how Ephesians 2 starts off…

I hated that phrase growing up.

And you…

Nothing ever positive happened after those words.

And you…

It meant that every one else has received their “discpline” and now we turn our attention to the real culprit. We are reserving the best punishment for the one who is truly deserving AND at fault for this whole mess.

And you…

You know how it plays out. Your sister and brother disobeyed by staying up late, watched a movie they shouldn’t have, ate junk food, and drank 16 Dr. Peppers.

And you… watched them do it.

And you… encouraged them to do it.

And you… will now receive twice the punishment they did.

And you know how we would argue that? But Dad or But Mom or But they…

We would throw a thousand names after that “but” in hopes that the name had enough power to rescue our poor, miserable, wretched souls from the deep weeds we were in.

This passage is the same way - and you were dead in your sin, junk, mistakes, screw ups, and goofs. Your life was toast, without meaning, void, empty, purposeless, and passionless.

Thank you Jesus for the but God. The only name powerful enough to save our poor, miserable, wretched souls from the deep weeds we are in.