Written by: John Sernaque
Call to Worship
Ephesians 2: 8-9
2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Boasting Out of Place—
[Ephesians 2:8, 9 quoted.] Human beings are in continual danger of boasting, of exalting self. Thus they reveal their weakness.... {6BC 1115.18}
The great change that is seen in the life of a sinner after his conversion is not brought about through any human goodness; therefore all human boasting is entirely out of place (Manuscript 36, 1904). {6BC 1115.19}
Works will not save any one. However, one will be judged by his works. Christ Jesus said that if we have not taken care of His people, we have not taken care of Him. Love one another, as you love yourself. Christ will say to some depart from me I do not know you. No one wants to hear these words come the day of judgement. It is by faith that we do good works for the honor and glory of His name. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Our Father, which art in heaven,
We come boldly to Your throne of grace in thanksgiving and praise. We thank You for Your grace and Your mercy. We are sinners, yet You give us the privilege of doing good works in Your name. As You went about doing good works, You created us to do the same. We thank You for this honor and Your gift to us. We thank You for saving us from our sin and our conversion into new creatures. For taking away the stony heart out of our flesh and giving us a heart of flesh. All the praise belongs to You, lest anyone should boast. We thank and praise You, in the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
