Rejoice:

Read:

11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

This comes after the section where Paul tells us what exactly we were before Christ (completely dead) and what we are now in Christ (made alive). Here Paul calls to remembrance that we were once like all of the unsaved people. This text is a reminder, but we can find reasons as to WHY we should be remembering. Though there are many, two great reasons for remembering this are:

1)One of the main reasons we don’t evangelize or care for the lost is because we forget we were in their same shoes. When we forget where we came from we inappropriately look at those still there. We have no priority in reaching them. We grow angry with their mistakes or attacks. We don’t look at them as cherished children that God is longing to bring to Himself. If you remember that you were once just as far off as they are you will have a heart for sharing the Gospel.

2)Many undervalue their current position of justification because they forget they were once on the edge of eternal damnation. You once lived a life on the razor’s edge of judgement! You begin to explode with thankfulness when you recall that you were once deserving of eternal judgement, unable to do good, and spewing evil from your mouth constantly. Though you were completely unworthy of grace or mercy our sovereign God brought you into His Kingdom. With that thankfulness you stop being anxious or “complainy” over the small things in your life. The enemy uses our “absent mindedness” about our former state to create in us discontentment and anxiety about our current situations. What Paul says we will read again now because it is perfectly applicable:

11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

This. This is what we rejoice over.

Respond:

Spend 2-3 minutes just thanking God for where you are now and then spend 2-3 minutes asking Him to help you remember this daily.

Relate:

Share this good news with another believer who is down. Then look for opportunities to share this same truth with an unbeliever. God is working in the lives of people around you, drawing them to Him. It is your duty, job, and commission to be in prayer constantly petitioning for God to help you be aware of those who are ready to be harvested (not in a creepy organ stealing kinda way)… 😛 twist ending eh? lol