The Apostle Paul Directs the People of Ephesus to that Grace that Equips

As Christian Leaders we want to see our people thoroughly equipped. Not just so “the job get done” but so that those we lead; those we serve can experience that sense of accomplishment; that sense of success. Well we find that the Apostle was so motivated; he wanted the people of Ephesus to experience an equipping that would lead to success and accomplishment.

I am sure we can learn something from the Apostle

Ephesians 2
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

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Earlier in his letter (1.7 & 8) the Apostle refers to that grace as being lavished upon us. In Jesus we are redeemed by His blood; forgiven of our trespasses…by the wealth and extravagance of His grace; a grace that He has lavished upon us.

Here in chapter two we are encouraged. We are saved by His grace. By His grace we are actually hardwired to do accomplish really good works in our day. We are each, rescued from the dark and broken lives of our past and transformed; we become a New People.

This grace is so aggressive and so effective that it draws us into a new household; builds us, securely, into a rising temple, a holy temple of the Lord, a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.

This is the work of God’s grace. A grace that has been lavished upon us.

Now as Christian Leaders we know some things about people. I will admit; these are pretty basic things; they are obvious. And yet we tend to overlook them.
** Everyone wants to feel accepted, valued, even significant
** All people (great and small) need encouragement. And when encouragement is extended to them they respond; highly motivated.
** We also have observed that people will buy into a leader long before they even know what the plan is.
** And when grace is obvious; when grace is the driving force of our leadership, our people advance. They realize that they have permission to engage. They realize that they are trusted. And they are confident that they will be prepared; equipped for the mission before them.

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Let’s pray for one another that we would not just experience this grace lavished upon us; but that we would become vehicles of that grace for the organizations we lead and the people we serve