This devotion was initially created for publication in Eternity for Today, a devotional resource from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, for the week of March 12, 2022
Romans 4:1-12
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. (Rom. 4:2)
If you’ve ever auditioned or applied for something, you’re familiar with the nerves and anxiety that come with waiting to find out if your name is on the list. In these situations, you hope that what you presented in your audition or application was good enough to qualify you for the privilege of being on the team, playing the part, or getting the job.
Many people approach life the same way. They hope that what they do is good enough to qualify them for the approval of others…maybe even the approval of God. Whether consciously or sub-consciously, many of us hope that what we do in life is good enough to qualify us for God’s love, forgiveness and redemption. We hope we deserve for our name to be on God’s list.
But God doesn’t hold auditions. God doesn’t accept applications. God doesn’t rate our good works. God’s grace is a free gift that is given before and in spite of anything we could do to earn it or deserve it. In our humanness, sometimes our approval before others is based on our performance. But not before God.
God of grace, thank you that we do not have to prove ourselves to you. Help us to receive Your love and allow it to transform us. Amen.