As a kid I had the coolest scooter in all the neighborhood. It was a classic style scooter with the six inch tires and wide foot board. My brother and I gave it a magnificent paint job, and I was beyond proud! Really, it was just an old scooter that came out of someone’s yard sale, but none of my friends had ever seen anything like it. I rode that thing day and night. I practiced doing all sorts of little tricks as I soared through the streets. I was so proud of myself that any time I jumped on it I instantly felt ten feet tall! I had put in the work to rescue that scooter, helped with the paint job, and spent so much time practicing my fancy footwork that I just knew I was amazing and everyone should know it. I may also have been a little obnoxious with my boastful behavior as I swooped into my friends’ driveways daily. My friends were surprisingly gracious and let me have my fun, but looking back, I don’t know how they kept from knocking me down a notch or two!
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not 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 (ESV)
This passage is one of my favorite passages in Scripture because it keeps me grounded. Every gift I have is a gift from God given with His plans and purposes in mind. I’m not responsible for my salvation, and I could never do enough good to bridge that vast gap between my sin nature and my perfect God. Yes, I’m overcome with gratitude and joy because I have received the gift of salvation, but I’m also left standing in awe that He would choose to love me enough to send His own Son take the punishment for my sins. So when I start to feel that familiar pride over my “good choices” I’m reminded that I am only saved by His grace. I can’t brag or boast about the solution to my sin problem, because I could never make enough good choices to level the field. However, I CAN brag on His greatness and love. I SHOULD brag on His saving grace. That grace should make me feel even more excited than my 10 year old self felt showing off my scooter skills. So let’s go boast about his love and share the good news of the gospel with those around us. Let’s remember that we were made just for that purpose, not for our own glory but for His. Let’s rejoice in the knowledge that His plan is best.
VC Devotionals 