"Brief Devotions For Busy Lives" By Rev. Dr. Mary B. Johnson: Ephesians 2:8-10

 November 30

"By that grace you have been saved through faith. This does not come from you. It is the gift of God and not the result of works, so that no one can boast. For we are his masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared long ago to be our way of life." -Ephesians 2:8-10 (ISV)

Gifts are a wonderful thing! As we prepare to enter the season of Advent and begin to approach the holidays, our mind often turns to what kind of gifts we will be giving this year. However, we don't usually think much about what kind of gifts we can give to God. Yet when someone does give us a gift, do we ever say, "That's really nice! How much do I owe you?" Of course not! It would be insulting. The best response to a gift is "Thank you" or perhaps even a hug. Yet many Christians even after we have been given the incredible Gift of Salvation, sometimes feel like we still need to earn God's favor by good deeds or constant striving to be perfect. However, since salvation and even our faith are God's incredible gifts, we need to respond instead with gratitude, praise, and joy. For the truth is we all become Christians through God's undeserved mercy and favor. His free gifts are never results of our own efforts, abilities, striving, or sterling service on our part. No action or work we ever do can help us obtain salvation. This is God's amazing free gift through the birth of his son Jesus who sacrificed his life for us that we may be restored to a right relationship, have a new life with God now, and receive eternal life.

If we are true Christians, it's out of gratitude and thankfulness for God's incredible love and free gifts that we will want to help and serve others with our own gifts of kindness, love, and generosity! This isn't to please ourselves, from selfish motives, or seeking favor. God's wish is that by offering us free gifts of love, we will want to give free gifts of love, acceptance, and kindness to others. We aren't saved merely for our own benefit but to help others. You are God's beloved masterpiece and his gift to others! God shows off his loving, powerful, creative work in you. If God considers us his masterpiece, we dare not treat ourselves or others with disrespect or as inferior. Shine! You are God's gift to the world!

Prayer: Lord, Thank you for your free gifts to me! Amen.

Meditation For The Day: Gifts of love and kindness are priceless.

Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Fall Renewal (Volume 3) Paperback – August 23, 2017 by Rev. Dr. Mary B. Johnson (Author)