Given, Not Earned

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” - Romans 5:8 (NIV)

I’ve always struggled with the concept of grace. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been an overachiever and a perfectionist. In school, I like to earn good grades. When I played sports, I worked hard to earn a starting position. In relationships, I strive to earn people’s trust and respect. In my faith, I constantly struggle with wanting to earn my salvation and earn God’s love—but I can’t.

No matter how hard I try to be the perfect Christian, I fail over and over and over again! I’m a sinner, and I choose myself over the Lord every day! Yet, God loves me more than I can even comprehend. He loved me in the midst of my unrighteousness, and He proved this truth when He gave up His Son so all who believe in Him can be clothed in His perfection and spend eternity in relationship with Him.

Romans 8:39 (NIV) tells us that nothing shall “be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” His love is unconditional and complete. Understanding this truth gives us confidence toward God and eliminates our fear of condemnation. Too often, we serve God out of obligation rather than out of love. But once we’re free from the burden of proving ourselves to God, our natural response is to serve and worship Him from a place of gratitude and love. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19 NKJV). We can’t earn God’s love because He already loves us. All we can do is respond to His love by loving Him back.

When we realize how deeply the Lord loves us, our love for Him grows deeper in response. When we realize how much He’s sacrificed for us, it brings us joy to make sacrifices for Him. Because of His grace, we get to look forward to eternity with Him! In the meantime, let’s live lives of gratitude, honoring and glorifying Him with every breath we have on Earth because He is worthy.

Pause: Do you find yourself trying to earn God’s approval and always falling short? How does the fact that God already loves you change your perspective? What barriers and/or thought patterns are preventing you from simply receiving God’s grace and living a life of gratitude?

Practice: Memorize Ephesians 2:8–9 (NKJV), which says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Pray: Spend time today in prayer asking the Lord for faith and humility to fully receive His grace and love, to help you walk in the freedom that Jesus purchased for you.