Tracy worked hard in her relationship with God. She was busy… and tired. She was busy doing good things- leading Bible studies, serving in the church, going on mission trips… And none of these things seemed problematic at first. But deep down she was starting to feel like she was trying to earn favor with God.

Serving the Lord is a natural response to salvation and it can bring great joy. But serving the Lord because you think you’re going to earn something leads to pride or despair. And you know, it’s easy to fall into that trap, to start believing the lie that through our own efforts we could somehow earn our way to God. Ephesians tells us, “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith…” And this is why it is such Good News! Our own good works could never be good enough. We are incapable of working our way to God. 

Jesus freely gives His salvation to those who receive it. And you know, once you understand the free gift of grace, you’ll be more motivated than ever to share this gift with others- but for the right reasons. As the reformer Martin Luther wrote, “We are saved by faith alone, but faith that saves is never alone.”

Whom do you know who needs to be set free from trusting their own efforts? Tell them the true Good News Gospel of grace through faith today.

This is Luis Palau.