May 2

Narrator: Ivona Gentwo

• 1 min. read • grade level: 6

“Remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh ... that at that time ye were without Christ ... having no hope, and without God in the world” (Eph. 2:11-12¹¹Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; ¹²That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: (Ephesians 2:11‑12)).

When we Christians think of what we are by God’s grace—”accepted in the Beloved,” and now “made ... to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” and “made the righteousness of God in Him”—when we think of these blessed things, let us never forget what we were apart from God’s grace. To remember our former estate will cause one “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Let us not forget that “ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” Praise God, “He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.” “Who is like unto the Lord our God. ... He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; that He may set him with princes.” We remember, and we give thanks to “the Lamb that was slain.”

Lost and undone, condemned forever,

This was our state, apart from His grace;

Now cleansed, forgiven, accepted in Him,

One day we shall see Him, face to face.

Eph. 1:6; 2:6; 2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 12:3; 1 Peter 2:25; Psa. 40:2; 113:5,7-8; Rev. 5:12.

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