Contemplative Bible Reading

Ephesians 2:9 (New Living Translation)

9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

Here we have a sentence I hate and love. I mean, I’m a good guy—always have been. I have always done good things. Look at me. (Seriously.) Being saved by God from evil is not a reward. It is a gift. God is graceful in salvation as a gift.

I get it. I understand all this. Still, look at me. I am a good guy doing things that good guys do. Surely there is some benefit in all this. I mean, sometimes I give up things I like so I can do good for others. That must bring me something, huh?

Sure, doing good brings lots of good to me. Satisfaction. Smiles. Hugs. Thanks. Salvation from God? Not in the list.

Why do all those good things? Some of the reasons were listed above. Another reason is that God gave me the resources to do good things. Not everyone in every place on earth in every year of the last 2,000 of them has had the resources to do good things. Wow! What a blessing!

Thank you God. Thank you for salvation that comes free. Thank you for all that allows me to do good things.