Day 2 - Week 71 - Ephesians 2:9 "Not from works, so that no one can boast."

Effort = Reward

In the mind of humanity, the above equation makes perfect sense and is what we base a lot of our societal rules on.  You put out great effort, and (if not immediately, eventually) you will be rewarded...either with financial success, a personal feeling of achievement, the kudos of your peers, or recognition by your children and grandchildren...now that's the best success you can achieve this side of heaven in my opinion!

But in God's plan, our efforts result in nothing.  Or as Isaiah puts it, "all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment."  In comparison to God's absolute and pure holiness, our very best efforts come up looking dingy and in need of a good scrubbing. 

We can work and work and work our lives away, and we will not attain enough "goodness" to enter into God's presence.  He is holy --- and we are not.  No matter how hard we try, we cannot attain holiness, it is not achievable...by us.

But there is One who imparts His holiness to us, His brothers and sisters.  Through Him, we take on a holiness that would never be ours without His atoning sacrifice. 

"Because of God you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God. In Christ we are put right with God, and have been made holy..."  1 Corinthians 1:30 (NCV)

Not from works, so that no one can boast...our only cause for boasting is that we are loved by God.  That because of Him, because of Christ's sacrifice for us, because of His Spirit working within us, we are made new...we are made holy...we are now able to come into His presence. 

And we don't have to wait to go to heaven to do that...we can kneel before the throne of glory right now, acknowledging that He is there, and He hears our voices....we are in His presence.

Praises, praises!  We have a great God who gives us so much.

Faith  = Reward

Now...James does have a little bit to say about the connection between true faith and works...guess that's for tomorrow! 

Loving my Christian brothers and sisters tonight...be strong in the faith, pray for each other, and share God's love wherever and whenever you can!

Day 1 - Week 71 - Faith, Trust, Rest

The title of our current section of verses is "Faith", the subtitle is "Trusting God and Resting in His Word."  With sustaining faith comes good solid trust.  When we solidly trust in God, we can rest.  And that's where this week's verse fits in very nicely.

Ephesians 2:9, "Not from works, so that no one can boast."  The verse that immediately follows our last week's verse of Ephesians 2:8, "For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift."

Paul wants us to see that this is not a competition---we do not have to try to outdo anyone.  God has gifted all with His grace that comes to each of us when we respond in faith.  And when we realize that we have been gifted with grace, and that all around us who invite God into their hearts through faith in the saving works of Jesus Christ have been gifted in the same way, then there is no need to try to outdo any of our Christian brothers and sisters in any way.

When we arrive at heaven's gates, there will be no one able to say..."Well I got here the hard way...I did it with my hard work, I was God's guy down there, He really relied on me."

Nope - we will all join in the chorus of praise singing, ""You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power!"
Let's spend this week focusing in on the futility of our works...and the beauty of offering ourselves to our Savior!

Reviewing where we are right now....

The Holy Spirit's Role in our Lives (6)
Ephesians 5:18 "And don't get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled with the Spirit."
Ephesians 5:19 "Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music in to the Lord in your hearts."
Ephesians 5:20 "Giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Ephesians 5:21 "Submitting to one another in the fear of Christ."
Galatians 5:22 "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
2 Timothy 1:14 "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you...guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us."

Joy: God's Kind of Happiness (12)
Psalm 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
Philippians 4:5 "Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near."
Philippians 4:6 "Do not worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."
Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit."
James 1:2 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds."
James 1:3-4 "Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you will be mature and complete, lacking nothing."
1 Thessalonians 5:16 "Rejoice always."
1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray constantly."
1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."


Faith: Trusting God and Resting in His Word (12)
Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift.
Ephesians 2:9 "Not from works, so that no one can boast."

"Indeed this is one of the greatest mysteries in the world---namely, that a righteousness that resides with a Person in heaven should justify me, a sinner on earth"  John Bunyan