And now Father, how can I possibly praise and thank you sufficiently when I consider that I was once dead in my trespasses and sins, in which I used to walk when I was conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience? I and all of my brothers and sister also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath. But because of your great love for us, you Father, who is rich in mercy, made us, made ME alive with Christ even when I was dead in my trespasses.

It is by your grace that I have been saved!

And you raised me up with Christ and seated me with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages you might display the surpassing riches of your grace, demonstrated by your kindness to me in Christ Jesus.

Again! It is by grace I have been saved through faith, and this is not from myself; it is your gift, not by works, so that I cannot possibly boast.

Father, I am your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which you prepared in advance as my way of life. Therefore I need to constantly remember that formerly, I who am a Gentile in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands)— I need to remember that at that time I was separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and a total stranger to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without you in the world.

But now in Christ Jesus I and those like me who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees.

Hallelujah!

Jesus did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace and reconciling both of us to yourself in one body through the cross, by which He extinguished our hostility.

Jesus Christ came and preached peace to me who was far away and peace to those who were near. For through Him we both have access to you Father by one Spirit. Therefore I am no longer a stranger and foreigner, but a fellow citizen with the saints and a member of your own household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.

I can see now that in Christ the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the you. And in Him I too am being built together with all the other believers into a dwelling place for you in His Spirit.

Heavenly Father, words cannot express the wonder of such grace. Glory to your everlasting name!