“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT)
There are a few important elements when planting a garden. The ground needs to be planted with seeds, and the garden needs to be protected from weeds and animals. Fertilizer can also be spread on the plants to help them grow. But after that, there is not much the gardener can do. The plants need sunlight and water to help them grow. While the gardener can try to keep the garden watered, it is much easier when there are regular seasons of rain. These are gifts from God. The farmer knows the work put into tending the garden but also knows that God is the one who makes the plants grow. He just needs to do his part and believe God will take care of the rest. Our sin has separated us from God. All of our hard work cannot take it away. We can take the steps to accept God’s gift of salvation ,but only God can save us.
Prayer: God, thank you for the reminder that my good deeds cannot save me. You paid the price and offered the free gift of salvation through the death of your only Son. I accept the gift knowing it is by your grace and not by my works. In Jesus name. Amen.