Ephesians 2:8-10 – For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (NIV)

I use the computer programme "Works" as my scratch pad. I record the words of my devotional and I save them in a file. In that sense, you could say the programme "Works", works for me.

There are a lot of people who believe that the works they do are all that is required of them to enter into God's kingdom. Now, getting back to the programme "Works", the other word is "save." This is the important one, for just as my file must be "saved", we must be saved.

Let us think very carefully about these words: "works" and "save." It is vital to choose the right one. It is so important that we know the difference, because works can't save, not even good works. My works will never save me. Your works will never save you. Only Jesus can.

No computer programme called "Works" can be as complete as the plan of salvation God has for us in Jesus. Let us read today's scripture again, slowly: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Prayer: Dear Jesus, we need You; we need to be saved. Help us to understand that being a good person and doing good works is not all You require of us, to receive our salvation. Amen.

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About the author:

Anne Russell <annerussell80@gmail.com>
Brampton, Ontario, Canada
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