The only thing dead people need is life.

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.’ (Ephesians 2:1-2)

When God created human beings, He placed in them His own Spirit to govern how they live and behave. God’s presence in us creates what the Book of Genesis calls the image of God – the moral image of God – an expression of His love, kindness, patience and goodness. At the fall, humanity became spiritually dead, and ‘in Adam all die’ (1 Corinthians 15:22). When we lose God, we cease to know how to live and behave, for the Source of true life has been lost.

Being dead leads inevitably to disobedience, for those who are separated from the life of God live according to ‘the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient’ (Ephesians 2:2). The Gospel is not about behavior modification, but restoring the life of God so that the character of God might be expressed in our behavior. Hence the result of our salvation is that ‘we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do’ (Ephesians 2:10).

When His life is restored to us, His character begins to grow in us, expressed in the fruit of the Spirit and the ‘good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do’ (Ephesians 2:10). Trust Him for that and work with Him in accomplishing it.

Lord, thank You for raising me to life with Christ. Help me live in that victory each day.

Bible in one year: Psalm 46-47 | Numbers 10