It is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.
Don't you love receiving gifts! Especially when they're truly given with no strings attached; we just have to receive them. The greatest gift we've ever received has nothing to do with our efforts. It is a gift from God. We didn't earn it, deserve it, or purchase it. God gave it through his sacrifice so our salvation would not be our boasting, but his loving kindness offered to us in Jesus. This simple, clear, and saving gospel, which finds its origin in God alone, is so important that the apostle Paul warned that no one should change it, or they would face the curse of God (
Galatians 1:8-9). Our appropriate response is to receive this gospel with joy by placing our faith in Jesus, then go live for him, doing good things to bless others (
Ephesians 2:10).
Holy God, I can never thank you enough for sending Jesus and paying the debt for my sin. May I never presume on your grace or take the cost of your gift lightly. At the same time, Father, I want to live confidently, knowing that my salvation is not dependent on me fixing my mistakes, but upon your grace graciously given to me. Because of your incredibly lavish gift, I want to live for you today in a way that reflects the joy I have for receiving such an awesome gift. In the name of Jesus, your source of my hope and grace, I pray. Amen.
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