Page 102 - Grace150 Devotional

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing;
it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are
his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8–10
I came from a church that had a lot of tradition and rules, and believed you
could lose your salvation. What a wonderful liberating transformation took place
in my life when I realized it was all of grace, through faith alone in Jesus Christ.
The great love that God shows to us by giving His only Son to die for us motivates
a deep desire in me to want to serve and love Him, not to try to earn my salvation
or live in fear that I would lose my salvation.

An illustration was given to me about how we always fall short of the holiness of
God. If a holy God were at the top of a measuring stick and the most evil person
we can imagine were at the other end, where would you put yourself? No matter
where we might think we are, we fall short of the glory of God. “Thanks be to God
for the inexpressible gift.” He looks on Jesus Christ and not on us.
We can’t do enough to be good enough to merit God’s favor. It’s all grace!
Lord, thank You for enabling us to be partakers of Your grace.
– Doug Leman

DAY 95 grace 150