READ: EPHESIANS 1:3–10

In the apostle Paul’s time, Ephesus was the wealthiest city of the Roman Empire. They were only the third largest city, but what contributed to the city’s great wealth was the worship of the goddess Artemis. The people of Ephesus were devoted to her. Selling the idol images and offerings that her worship required was among the most lucrative businesses of the time. The temple devoted to Artemis also served as one of their largest banks.

This was the kind of society the Christians in Ephesus lived in. They were surrounded by Artemis-worshipers in a bustling city of wealth and trade. It would have been too easy to be tempted by the riches around them. But Paul encouraged them to look not to the riches of the world, but to the true riches that can be found in God.

Paul used the word “riches” in his writing to describe how abundant and valuable the grace of God is. Unfortunately, we sometimes take this grace for granted. That’s why it is important for us to focus on and deeply grasp the words, ways, and works of God. Then we will find ourselves in a place that is rich and full of depth and truth. There are two priceless truths we can find in this text.

1. An object’s value is determined by how much someone is willing to pay for it. God paid a high price to redeem us. He paid for our redemption through the most precious blood of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:7). That is how much God values and treasures us.

2. God made this invaluable sacrifice not because we asked for it, but because of His great love for us. It is one thing to ask for a gift from a wealthy benefactor and receive it—that shows the person’s generosity. But when we think of our salvation, God did not send His Son because we kept asking Him to forgive us. He gave His Son for us entirely and absolutely out of His own initiative—while we were His enemies! (Romans 5:8–10)

The riches of God’s grace allow us to receive His love and forgiveness, which He lavished upon us.

BASAHIN: MGA TAGA-EFESO 1:3–10

Noong panahon ni apostol Pablo, ang Efesus ay isa sa mga mayayamang bayan ng Emperyo ng Roma. Pangatlo lamang sila sa pinakamalaking bayan, subalit ang nagpayaman sa bayan nila ay ang pagsamba sa diyosang si Artemis. Ang mga taga-Efeso ay may tapat na debosyon sa kanya. Ang pagbebenta ng mga imahe at handog na hinihingi upang makasamba sa kanya ay kabilang sa mga pinagkakakitaang negosyo noong panahong iyon. Ang templo na inilaan para kay Artemis ang isa sa mga pinakamalaking bangko noong panahon na iyon.

Ito ang uri ng lipunan na kinabibilangan ng mga Kristiyano na nakatira sa Efeso. Sila ay napapalibutan ng mga sumasamba kay Artemis sa isang bayan na mayaman at sentro ng kalakalan. Madali sana para sa kanila ang maakit ng mga yaman na nasa kanilang paligid. Subalit hinikayat sila ni Pablo na huwag tumingin sa yaman sa mundo, kundi sa tunay na yaman na makikita sa Diyos.

Ginamit ni Pablo ang salitang “napakalaking biyaya” upang ilarawan kung gaano kasagana at kahalaga ang biyaya ng Diyos. Ang nakalulungkot, minsan ay hindi natin napahahalagahan ang biyayang ito. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit mahalagang maituon natin ang ating pansin at mahigpit na panghawakan ang mga salita, pamamaraan, at ginagawa ng Diyos. Pagkatapos, makikita natin ang ating mga sarili sa isang lugar na puno ng kasaganaan, kabuluhan, at katotohanan. May dalawang mahahalagang katotohanan na makikita sa pahayag na ito.

1. Ang halaga ng isang bagay ay makikita sa halaga ng handang ibayad ninuman para dito. Mahal ang naging kapalit ng pagtubos sa atin ng Diyos. Ang buhay ni Jesu-Cristo ang naging kabayaran para dito (Mga Taga-Efeso 1:7). Ganito tayo pinahahalagahan ng Diyos.

2. Ginawa ng Diyos ang napakahalagang sakripisyong ito hindi dahil hiningi natin ito, kundi dahil sa dakila Niyang pagmamahal sa atin. Maaari nating makita ang pagiging mapagbigay ng isang tao sa pamamagitan ng nagiging tugon niya sa mga humihingi sa kanya ng regalo. Subalit iba ang kaligtasan na ibinigay sa atin ng Diyos. Hindi ipinadala ng Diyos ang Kanyang Anak dahil hinihingi natin ang Kanyang kapatawaran. Ginawa Niya ito dahil ito ang Kanyang kagustuhan—kahit pa tayo ay Kanyang mga kaaway  (Mga Taga-Roma 5:8–10).

Dahil sa masaganang biyaya ng Diyos, matatanggap natin ang Kanyang pagmamahal at kapatawaran na ibinuhos Niya nang labis-labis para sa atin.

READ: EPHESIANS 1:3–10

One day, Ben’s grandmother said she had something for him. “I’ll be leaving soon,” she said, “so I want to give you something precious.” She gave him the key to her attic, which held relics and other old and secondhand objects. Ben was upset at his grandmother for giving him worthless objects. He felt bad that while his friends were rich and owned the latest gadgets and fashions, all he had was old vases and ornaments. He put it out of his mind. Years passed, and Ben forgot about the attic. One day he remembered it, and brought one of the objects to an antique collector to find out its value. To his surprise, the collector told him that the ornament was a rare and valuable piece. Ben brought the collector to the attic to see the rest of the items.

The antique collector was delighted and told Ben that everything in the attic belonged to rare collections that could be sold for millions. Imagine Ben’s surprise!

Like Ben, we have the tendency to look around and feel like we have less compared to others. Worse, we even ignore God’s grace because we don’t know how priceless and abundant it is!

In his letters to the church in Ephesus, the apostle Paul’s favorite word to describe grace was “rich.” Why? In the same way that Ben discovered the true worth of the objects in his attic, we will begin to understand the rich grace of God that surrounds us. This grace is wonderful, great, and unbelievable—and God is giving it to us!

Below are two priceless truths that we can learn from the verse above:

1. God paid the ultimate price for us. We know the value of something by how much someone is willing to pay for it, like the antique collector who knew the items were worth millions. Did you know that someone also paid for you? God paid for you with the precious blood of Jesus. Jesus gave His life for you—that’s how valuable you are.

2. God saved us because He loves us. If Ben asked his grandmother for a gift, and she gave him one, we would already call her “generous.” But she gave Ben the key to the attic full of priceless treasure even when he did not ask, because she loved him. In the same way, God sent Jesus to save us and forgive us, not because we asked Him to, but because He wanted to. He gives the gift of salvation to all who want to receive it. God gave us the gift of His rich grace not because we are deserving or are successful. He freely gives His grace to us because He is a loving and generous God.

Because of the riches of God’s grace, we can receive His overflowing love and forgiveness.