FRONTLINE DEVOTION FOR MONDAY, MARCH 20, 2006 by Fritz Foltz

Ephesians 2:1-10 . “God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ…For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.”

Martin Luther’s Explanation of the Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed says the same thing in this way: “I believe that by my own reason or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him. But the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and sanctified and preserved me in true faith, just as he calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth and preserves it in union with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church he daily and abundantly forgives all my sins, and the sins of all believers, and on the last day he will raise me and all the dead and will grant eternal life to me and to all who believe in Christ. This is most certainly true.”

I came to understand this more clearly recently. My wife and I had a falling out with one of our best friends, an elderly woman whom we loved warmly. It took place years ago, and we could never figure out what happened. She just suddenly saw us as the enemy.

We tried often to reconcile, but it seemed there was nothing we could do right for a number of years. It is amazing how obsessed we became with the situation. Just thinking of it upset us. Yet there was nothing we could do, nothing. It looked like we would take it to our graves.

And then one day our friend approached my wife, said she could not remember what had started it all, acknowledged she still loved her and was sorry. “Forgive me”. It was one of the most freeing moments in our lives. Life is once again bright where it was dark. It is so much easier to love not only our friend, but others as well.

Our friend’s forgiveness was a gift that made possible all the good things that followed. It reestablished a relationship fundamental to our happiness. We no longer had to struggle after some action that might change the situation. It was changed.

I think that is what it means to say we are justified by God’s gift, not our own works. It is such a wonderful change that one never boasts about what follows. You just pass it on in thanksgiving.

Let us pray: We give thanks for your gracious forgiveness, Father, for it has freed up our lives. Stay with us always that we might know the beauty of love. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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