I’ve learned that as you study scripture intently, as in memorization and meditation, you learn a lot more than you would if you were to just read something one chapter a day every day. (does that make sense?) I spent a semester studying Galatians 5 and 6 and I learned so much!!! And now, I have begun the process of studying Ephesians 2. I memorized verses 1-3 last week and spend the week meditating on it, and this week I have memorized 4-7. I already had 8-10 memorized. Doing this has shown me amazing things about scripture. Paul is very repetitive, not just to babble, but to emphasize different concepts…

Ephesians 2:1-10
“1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

There are many reoccuring themes:

• In our trespasses and sins, we are are dead; In Christ, we are made alive.
• It is only because of God’s grace, mercy, and kindness that we are saved.
• Our own ways, our own works, have no power, and get us no where and lead us to destruction and wrath. 
• The grace that God has given us propel us to do good works, the works that he prepared for us to do.
• Faith is the determining factor of grace. We must have faith that Christ has accomplished His work on the cross.
• We once “walked” in our trespasses and sins; now, we must “walk” in the works that Christ has prepared for us by his grace. 

I would have never seen any of the themes to this passage if I had not started the work of meditation and memorization (I still have a long way to go on these verses, but they are coming along). I am so thankful that the Lord placed the women of FBCN in my life to help stir me up in love in good works: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24). Woman’s A&E (accountability and encouragement) has been crucial to the refining of my faith; it is a tool of the Lord, indefinitely. The Lord has blessed me with these women, and Lord-willing, I will get to be apart of that church—in some way, shape, or form—for the rest of my life.


To Be Continued… =)