You Can’t Earn God’s Love—That’s the Point

My husband and I enjoy giving gifts to our children, especially when we know it’s exactly what they want. Last Christmas, we gave our son season tickets to his favorite minor league soccer team. He goes to every home game. He laughed when we told him we had called the team office to see if he had purchased his tickets yet.

Earlier in the year, we gave our daughter, who enjoys baking cakes and cookies, a stand mixer. She always wished for one but couldn’t afford it. “Mom,” she said happily, “this mixer is so sturdy, it might outlive you.” I laughed. She’s probably right.

They were both surprised, delighted, and grateful. They didn’t earn those gifts, and they didn’t expect them. The gifts were theirs because they freely received them. And now they have used those gifts throughout the year.

In the same way, your heavenly Father delights in giving you good gifts. He sent His Son, Jesus, who died on the cross to pay for the sins of the world, including yours and mine.

In Ephesians 2:8-9, the apostle Paul writes that grace is a gift you don’t deserve and cannot earn. Still, the gift is yours because God has freely given it to you. A gift is not something you can earn by working for it. It is something you receive. You have no room to brag. This is God’s gift. He saved you from the sins that separate you from Him.

But it’s bigger than that. The same grace that saves you from sin and makes you a new creation also lets you enter into God’s plans for your life every day. You can join the Creator of the universe in doing the good works He has created for you as He establishes His kingdom on earth.

Application Questions:

• Is it hard for you to receive something you don’t deserve?
• Will you receive God’s gift and join him in doing the good works he has created for you today?

Prayer:

"Heavenly Father, thank You for forgiving my sins. Thank You that Your grace is a gift I haven’t worked for and cannot earn. Help me to place my faith in You to live through me. Help me do the good works You have prepared ahead for me. Amen."

Anne Marie Winz
Orlando, USA
Digital Services, Emeritus