Ripple Effects Reading Plan – W3D2

Check out all the previous Ripple Effect readings here.

Ripple Effect Reading | Week 3 | Day 2

Prayer

Allow some silence for your soul to catch up with your body. Thank God for time to spend with Him and ask Him to meet with you.

Bible Reading: Ephesians 2:8-10

Read these verses three times slowly.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Reflection & Questions

Entitlement is a huge problem in our society. It’s the sense that the belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment. Unfortunately, many who are religious also have a sense of entitlement because they consider their lives cleaned up and they look down on others who haven’t. Entitlement robs people of joy and gratitude, the very things that power us to be a light and have a ripple effect.

Paul’s words today in Ephesians show us there is no room for entitlement in the believer’s mindset. It is only by God’s grace that we have been saved. Paul says, it is “not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Gifts aren’t earned or deserved. They’re given. Paul makes it clear “no one can boast.”

But that doesn’t mean we are to hide in shame because we are broken and undeserving. Nope! Paul says, “we are God’s handiwork”. That’s amazing. We are the work of none less than the Lord Almighty! That means we can be humbly confident in our salvation and in joy and gratitude, we are to shine our light. As Paul says, we are “to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” We didn’t earn or deserve this, but we can confidently shine for Jesus through good works and keep the ripple effect going!

1. What word or phrase that Paul uses sticks out to you today? Why?
2. How do Paul’s words encourage you to serve today? What will you do about it?

Prayer

Talk to God in response to today’s reading.

Worship Song

You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:

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Questions?