Ephesians 2:1-10
We have learned well the modern philosophy that says, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." A related phrase often heard from someone we know, usually in the context of having made a poor investment, is "You get what you pay for." Each of these make common sense claims that are meant to either warn us, or after the fact, teach a lesson that won't soon be forgotten.
Paul's words seem to run counter to the common sense so often seen in these phrases. He writes, " For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God..." Salvation, it would seem, is outside the lines of our common expectations. The cross is not something we can purchase, nor earn in any human endeavor. The cross is God's gift to a sinful, human creation. Lest you think you have earned this favor through some action of your own, Paul completes the above statement, saying that this salvation is "not the result of works, so that no one may boast." I haven't earned it and I can't achieve it on my own. That makes little sense in a world that constantly assesses and reassesses its value...thank God!
Prayer: For your gift of love unearned and undeserved, we give
you thanks, dear Lord. Amen.
Jim Abernathy
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