Celebrating the Gift of Salvation by Grace

Daily Devotional – Tuesday, July 11, 2023
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.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)

Moses and Aaron had pleaded with Pharaoh to release the children of Jacob from Egypt but the king had remained adamant. Not even the devastating plagues God had sent on the land could convince Pharaoh. God decided to use His most lethal weapon, and in the process, taught humanity that salvation is a gift of grace through faith.

When I See the Blood, I Will Pass over You

God instructed the Israelites to slaughter a lamb without blemish. Then they were to take some of the blood of the dead animal and apply it on the doorposts and lintels of the houses they were living in. The blood would play a significant role in the Exodus and salvation of God’s people.

God explained. “For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 12:12-13).

By Grace You Have Been Saved

That night, the angel of the Lord killed all the firstborns of the Egypt but spared the Israelites who had obeyed His instructions. Notice that angel of the Lord was not interested in how righteous one was. Those whom the angel spared included vile sinners. Some might have been Egyptians who had copied the Israelites’ actions. What mattered was whether one had applied blood on their doorposts and lintels.

The Passover and the Exodus exemplify the most critical principle of salvation as stated by Apostle Paul. “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.” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Like the Israelites, our salvation is due to God’s unmerited favour but we benefit from it by believing in God.

Celebrating the Gift of Salvation by Grace

Jesus did not die for the righteous. He does not require you to be of flawless character before He can save you. Through His blood, the worst sinners find pardon. Salvation results from accepting the gift of salvation Jesus offers. No human is so sinful that Jesus cannot save him or her.

Today, take a moment to celebrate your salvation. You cannot add anything to the finished work of Jesus on the cross. Your best reaction is to live for Jesus forever as in gratitude for His selfless death on your behalf. If you are not saved, go to Jesus in prayer just as you are right now. He will forgive you and give you a brand new life of spiritual renewal.

Prayer
Dear Jesus, today I celebrate my salvation because is it by grace through faith in you. Because You died for me, I will live for You.