“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.”

Ephesians 2:8-9
My husband and I were present at the birth of the baby who was to become our adopted daughter. When that precious one was born, I passed out right then and there in the delivery room! The magnitude of the gift overwhelmed me. There is no way you can boast when something like that has been given to you.

We identify with why our prisoner-contributor is so encouraged by this familiar Ephesians passage about the most magnificent of gifts and about not boasting. “I know there is nothing we can do by our own works to add to or take away from God’s work in Christ. We are simply saved by God’s great grace through faith in Jesus. It leaves no room for us to boast about what we have done on our own, no matter how ‘good’ our works may be.”

Pastor and writer Scotty Smith captured this in his prayer, saying, “Indeed, what is my boast? That you know me, love me, and delight in me, Father. That alone explains why I can boast, trust, and rest in knowing you. I love you, only because you first loved me, and gave Jesus for me” (2017).



Scripture Focus

Ephesians 2:1-10

Insight

Pray for Eric, 46, who has served 22 years of a life sentence and daily reminds himself, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Bible In A Year

  • Leviticus 11-12
  • Psalm 51
  • Luke 15

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