“Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. …learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” —Matthew 11:28-30
The Problem: Why We Needed Saving
Ephesians 2:1-3
The Reason: Why God Saved Us
But God still loved us with such great love. He is so rich in compassion and mercy. (Ephesians 2:4)
The Solution: What the Saving Was
Ephesians 2:5-7
“I will rejoice in doing them good…with all My heart and all My soul.” —Jeremiah 32:41
“Is not Israel still My son, My darling child? I often have to punish him, but I still love him. That’s why I long for him and surely will have mercy on him.” —Jeremiah 31:20
“Who are we that You’ve brought us this far? You know what I’m really like. …according to Your own heart, You have done all this greatness…”
(1 Chronicles 17:16,18,19)
PRAYER
Father, I pray that out of Your glorious riches You would strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith. And that I, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all Your holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge that I may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-19)
MEDITATION
Romans 8:32-39
But we all…beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. —2 Corinthians 3:18
God creates beauty by setting His sights on what is not lovely and pleasing, and He makes us pleasing by loving us. —Jared Wilson, The Imperfect Disciple
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
The Beauty of God’s Creation
Go outside and look up.
Daily Bible Reading Plan
gracestl.org/resources/bible-plan
Books
gracestl.org/resources/rons-recommends
Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane Ortlund
Music
gracestl.org/media/worship/
Podcasts
CBETS
The Place We Find Ourselves, Adam Young
Videos
gracestl.org/series/the-heart-of-christ/
Ask Dr. Brown, Eric Metaxas, The Chosen
Discussion Questions
1. Describe 1-2 ways that God displays the richness of His mercy.
2. Why do you think Jesus died to save us? (See Ephesians 2:7.)
3. What’s the Holy Spirit been saying to you through this series? Through your daily Bible reading? Are you praying differently?
4. What will you do this week to get a better look at God?