“IT IS THE GIFT FROM GOD!”

 Ephesians 2:4-10                                 (ESV)

“4 But GOD, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which HE loved us,

5 even when WE WERE DEAD in our trespasses, made us alive together with CHRIST-BY GRACE you have been saved-

6 and raised us up with HIM and seated us with him in the heavenly places in CHRIST JESUS,

7 so that in the coming ages HE might show the immeasurable riches of HIS GRACE in kindness toward us in CHRIST JESUS.

8 For BY GRACE you have been saved THROUGH FAITH. AND THIS IS NOT YOUR OWN DOING; “IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD”,

9 not a result of works, SO THAT NO ONE MAY BOAST.

10 For we are HIS workmanship, created in CHRIST JESUS for good works, which GOD prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

 

There are several “scars” on my body where either I have unintentionally cut myself, or where a physician has been required to correct something that had developed. One of the, and possibly the largest “scars”, was in 2017 when bypass surgery was performed on me, remediating problems that unwise decisions and genetics had caused for me. When one immerses themselves in THE WORD OF GOD with a desire to have their life changed, it usually isn’t a neat and clean process, precise with no remnants of what we once were?  “Scarring” is something that is expect!  

Hebrews 4:12 states “For the WORD OF GOD is living and active, SHARPER THAN ANY TWO-EDGED SWORD, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and DISCERNING THE THOUGHTS AND INTENTIONS OF THE HEART.”  Even though the WORD OF GOD is SHARPER THAN ANY TWO-EDGED SWORD, we will still have scars to remind us of our choices.  Just as I had always preferred not to have open heart surgery, I have NOT always wanted to experience some of the things being removed by ALMIGHTY GOD in my life!   

“IT IS THE GIFT FROM GOD” has to remind us that we are not worthy of Salvation, it is only BY GRACE that we are CHOSEN, and THROUGH FAITH that GOD grants!  The fact that our Righteousness is not a result of works should alert us ALL that we are going to Heaven ONLY because HE IS MERCIFUL!  Just in case you disagree, Romans 3:10-11 reminds us that “NONE is righteous, no, NOT ONE; NO ONE understands; NO ONE seeks for GOD.”  We ALL need to “cut away” the flesh and surrender our spirit to the SPIRIT OF GOD!  

ALMIGHTY GOD has to perform surgery on me quite often to make me more in HIS IMAGE.  The “scarring” maybe painful at the time, but making me like HIM constitutes some RADICAL changes.  Since HE IS OUR CREATOR, submitting to HIS wishes should be what we desire.  Do I willingly submit to HIS surgery, or do I have to go kicking and screaming?  Remembering that “IT IS THE GIFT FROM GOD” needs to be remembered by this servant, and that THE CREATOR is my surgeon.  My desire is s for HIM to be Glorified — and to use me to achieve that!!!