Scripture: Romans 11:6 – But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
Reflection: A few days ago I received something wonderful, and unexpected. When I learned of this gift I was receiving, I immediately thought to myself “I don’t deserve it.” Truth is I couldn’t even get excited about it because all I could think was that I was not worthy of what I had been given.
Fast forward a little while later, I was talking with a friend and telling her how I didn’t deserve this gift I just received, and I was feeling guilty for it. As I was going on and on, she stopped me and said “Toby, it’s God’s Grace.”
I had convinced myself that I didn’t deserve it, because I had not worked hard enough. I had not been as dedicated as I should have been. But if I would have first thought about God, and the unmerited grace I receive EVERYDAY, instead of trying to make sense of it, I would have realized it wasn’t about me.
Truth is we don’t deserve God’s grace. There is nothing we can do to earn God’s grace. It isn’t given to the hardest worker, or the one with the most money. Grace isn’t something that comes to us because we pray the loudest or stay in church the longest.
It’s unmerited. It has nothing to do with us, and everything to do with God.
Now, I must consider, how does God want me to use this gift? How do I use this gift, that I didn’t earn, to bring glory to God?
How do you use the gifts God has given you, by grace?
Use them wisely.
Prayer: Creator – Unmerited Gift Giver. Thank You for reminding me of Your grace. Thank You for reminding me that there is nothing I can ever do to earn Your love, or the gifts You give freely. Help me to remember that it is never about me and always about You. Help me to use the love and gifts, provided to me for free, for Your sake. To bring life to Your words, and not my own. Precious God help me to use my gifts wisely. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen.
Devoted to God 