But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved (Ephesians 2:4-5).

We have lots of choices in life. No matter our age, where we live, or our socio-economic situation. We get to choose how we think about ourselves, our upcoming day at school or work, etc. We can wake a bit grumbly about what we don’t have, what we don’t feel like doing, or our limitations in life. Alternatively, we can choose to rise and thank God for His generous mercy and grace He offers us in Christ Jesus, His Son. This right thinking moves us from a mindset of scarcity to one of abundance. 

If we are honest, though, we often need God’s help to get our thinking right. I don’t know about you, but I can sometimes slip into feeling as though I don’t have enough or that I am not enough. I often need the gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit to open my eyes to God’s abundant riches all around me. 

God has also given us His Word. The Bible is full of verses that remind us of His character and demonstrations of His sovereignty, goodness, kindness, and love. As is typical of the Apostle Paul in his letters, in just a couple of verses he says so much. He shows us how to get our thinking right. 

He begins here with who God is and what He has done. God loves you. He is rich in mercy. He has extended life-giving, abundant life to you and me through His Son. Yes, we once lived in ultimate scarcity while dead in our sin. But God made us alive. He made a way for us to be reunited with Him through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. 

When we get the order of our thinking right, we begin to experience the abundant life that God offers us. 

This weekend, we will remember and reflect on what God has done for you and for me. We will move through the brutal events of Friday, the quiet of Saturday, to the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection on Sunday. As you do, consider how your thinking can change in light of who God is and what He has done for us in Christ Jesus.