May 20

From Pastor Gary...

For by grace you have been saved, through faith. And this is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

A light bulb gives no light unless it is connected to a source of electricity. A wire is the conduit by which electricity flows to the bulb. In that power it does what it was created to do.

Grace is God’s love and generous mercy to undeserving people. You are loved by God. In love God sent Jesus Christ as the sacrificial offering for your sins and mine. By faith we believe Jesus died for the forgiveness of our sins and rose again so we may have eternal life. Faith “connects” us to God’s grace.

The light bulb is unable to create the wire by which it receives electricity. Likewise, we are unable to create faith in our hearts. Faith is God’s gift to us. He creates faith in our hearts by the Holy Spirit working through the Word of God.

The light bulb can do what it was created for only when connected to the power source. Likewise, by faith we may do what God created us to do - to shine the light of God’s love into a world darkened by sin and unbelief.

Gracious Father, thank you for the gift of faith by which we receive your grace. By your power, may we walk in the good works you have prepared in advance for us. Amen.

Verse for today:
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we also have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5: 1-2)