Devotional: By Grace

From bible.com

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. -Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT

Do you know someone who likes to boast about the things they've done? Maybe it is boasting about their Gamerscore, or how much money they make. Maybe it is about things they own, or some thing in their life they hold as very high importance. A lot of people boast about a lot of things. I understand boasting is more about showing how you are better than the person you are talking to. I have a problem with people when they boast to put others down, but I also know that I sometimes boast like this as well. And we are in good company, so did the early church.

It seems to me, that Paul had to remind the people of Ephesus that it the salvation that God gives us is not because of something we have done, but something God did for us, through Grace. Paul is reminding us that salvation is not something we earned, something we work day in and day out to get. No it was given to us by God because we believed in his Son. In fact, we have done nothing to even earn his grace but he loved us so completely anyways.

So if you have a feeling to boast about anything today, boast about the abundant love God has for us. How when we did nothing to earn it, God gave us a way to salvation through his Son and the love God has for us. God is truly something boast-worthy.

Lord, when I feel the need to try one up someone, remind me that the only thing I have to boast is you. Help me to share you with the world so they too may be able to boast You.