Winning%2BWisdom

Topic: Approval without Works [Sunday, 17th September 2017]


For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast. – Ephesians 2:8‭-‬9

I often sit and just smile amazingly at God’s everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3 says: “the Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Romans 5:8 goes on to describe this love that He has for us thus: “but God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” And do you know what is even more amazing? This show of love was before we were saved, when we were not even close to carrying out His instructions and doing His will. He loved us before we were saved, all before we put faith in Him and accepted this sacrifice of love.

So, why do we start to believe that after we have been saved and reconciled to God through our faith in His Son, He is going to withdraw His approval of us just because did something wrong or approve of us because we did something right. Some folks think that by our works, we can ‘manipulate’ God into approving and loving us. Yes, we are to carry out His instructions as they not only advance the kingdom, but also build us up. We should know that our works are not prerequisite for getting God’s approval and love. For if it were so, Christ wouldn’t have come to die. Galatians 3:1-3 says: “o foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”

A lot of us today are like the Galatians. We were saved by faith, but somewhere in our walk, we started believing that our works was going to make us gain God’s approval. You already got it, even without your works. Our anchor scripture states explicitly, “for by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” You did not need works to get saved, it was a gift. You got salvation without works, and with salvation comes God’s approval. Your works are products of your faith. Your faith is not the product of your work. Faith is the foundation, and it is what won God’s approval not your works. Never think your works will win you God’s approval. You are approved by God without works. Your faith have settled that.

Keep winning daily.


Prayer:

Dear God, I’m amazed at the love You have for me. And what amazes me more is that I haven’t learnt all of it. Thank You for Your approval given without my works, and also for the grace to work for you. Help me to work from love, and not in a bid to win Your approval. Also, by the Holy Spirit, put me constantly in remembrance that I already got Your approval in Christ Jesus, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.


By Esun Tekeme


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