March 3, 2026 

Paul reminds believers in Ephesians 2:4-5 that even when we were spiritually dead because of sin, God made us alive with Christ. Salvation comes not from human effort but from God’s rich mercy and great love.

Devotional: Lent often brings us face to face with our limitations. We notice habits we can’t seem to break, attitudes we wish we didn’t carry, and moments where we fall short of the life we know God calls us to live. That honesty can feel uncomfortable, but it also creates space for something important, grace.

Paul describes the human condition in strong language. He says we were dead. Not struggling. Not weak. Dead. That may sound harsh, but it helps us understand the depth of what God has done. If we are only struggling, then maybe we can fix ourselves. But if we are spiritually lifeless, then life must come from somewhere else.

And Paul tells us exactly where it comes from. God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ.

That phrase changes everything. Our hope does not rest in our ability to improve. It rests in God’s love. Transformation begins because God acts first. We do not earn spiritual life. We receive it. That truth sits right at the heart of Lent. This season reminds us that self-reliance cannot save us, but grace can.

Being made alive with Christ does not mean life suddenly becomes easy. We still struggle. We still grow. But something fundamental changes. We are no longer defined by what was broken. We are defined by the life God has given us. Even when we feel discouraged, God’s mercy continues working beneath the surface.

Sometimes people assume faith is about becoming a better version of themselves. Scripture says something deeper. Faith is about becoming alive. God’s love reaches into the places that feel lifeless, numb, or hopeless and begins breathing new life there.

Lent invites us to trust that even when we feel weak, God is strong. Even when we feel stuck, God is moving. Even when we feel empty, God is filling us with life through Christ.

Action: Spend a few moments today thanking God specifically for His mercy. Name one area of your life where you need His life-giving power and offer it to Him.

Prayer: Merciful God, thank You for loving me even when I fall short. Thank You that my hope does not depend on my strength but on Your mercy. During this Lenten season, breathe new life into the places where I feel weak or discouraged. Help me trust that You are making me alive with Christ, even when I cannot see it clearly. Fill my heart with gratitude and hope. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Thought for the Day: God’s mercy brings life where there was none before.

Paul reminds us that our hope comes from God’s mercy, not our effort. Lent invites us to trust that God is making us alive with Christ, even in our weakness.