“For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation]. For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us.” — Ephesians 2: 8-10 (AMP)
Most of us have been conditioned to believe that we have to work hard for everything that we want, and this is due to the fact that it has been drilled into us since we were kids. So as a child you were rewarded according to your works or good deeds; maybe by your parent’s or guardian, and this reward system has continued to follow you well into your adulthood. And now that you have become an adult or young adult you are still measuring your worth according to someone else’s value scale and you can’t seem to measure up. You are constantly trying to fit in and be noticed by your peers as well as your employer. Your hypothesis is that your relationships and material gains are all based off your works and deeds. So you put forth your best effort to obtain your value, your worth, or your significance in the world. I would venture to say that you also take this same approach with your relationship with God. But I would like to suggest a new way of thinking, which will force you to take on a new mindset, the mindset of Christ.
I was recently given a Word in The Sanctuary, that reminded me that the enemy knows that if he can mess with your mind, then he has the ability to alter your relationship with God through your faith. He will set out to do this by birthing up vain imaginations that will cause you to believe in things that are contrary to the Word of God. The enemy has convinced you that your salvation is based off your own works. You have to be mindful of whose report that you have allowed your purpose to be contingent upon because the report of your purpose is already approved. Now your instructions are to believe it, receive it and then be it. In that order.
Prayer
Father, we ask that You would please forgive us for following behind the ways of this world, and straying away from Your Word and the purpose that You have for our lives. We ask that You would forgive us for finding passion within our own flesh and sinful desires. And we humbly thank You for granting us the richness of Your love, grace, and mercy because we do not deserve it. We love, honor, and adore You because You are not like man, and You haven’t sentenced us according to the wages of our sins. Father we take an oath today that we will emerge ourselves in Your Word daily by making it a daily part of our lives. And, we ask that You we continue to watch over us, protect us, and guide us in Spirit and in truth in Jesus name we pray. Amen, Amen, and Amen!
Contributed by: Sharessa Bass