Ephesians 2:8-10 says this; "For it is buy grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works,so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Also in 1 Corinthians 1:31 says; "Therfore, as it is written:Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." I think these two verses can keep us in check and show us who we are. First through God's grace He saved us, He didn't have to climb upon the tree to be our sacrifice,He did it out of love for us,and to bring glory and honor to the Father. All Jesus did,was to point straight to the Father.He gave Himself so freely,to show His true love. Its through our faith in Christ that we are saved, its not our works that save us. It isn't all the great things we do in live that will lead us to heaven. Whether in this life we touch one person with God's blessings or touch a million,Jesus loves all His children the same.There is none higher than another.He loves each of us,just as we were His only child. Our salvation is a gift,it is freely given from Christ and our debts are paid through His shed blood on the cross. None of us can boast and brag about the things we did to make our way to heaven.Its not a competition,it is all about love.God created all of us to do good works,to touch others with love. Everything we do that is good,belongs to the glory of God,not us. For with Jesus living in us, He and He alone should get praise for the good that comes from us. Because it is coming from Him,the Holy Spirit who is living inside us. Then scripture tells us that if we are to boast,let us boast in the Lord. So, if someone gives us praise,let us reflect that praise back to Christ. Back to the one who gave us our gifts, to share with others. I love blessing others, and sharing with them.I love giving cards to others that my beautiful friend has made with her hands and talent. I also love writing,it is a passion that is instilled in me. But,for all these wonderful things,the real praise goes straight to God. He has blessed us with gifts to share with others and talents to shine for the world to see,but we are not to recieve that praise. It can only go to the one who is working through us and living in us to create beautiful portraits of His love. I have a few little friends who just love glimmer. They love jewelery that shines,for as they put it on,it does add to who they are.Just as we put on the gifts that God has given us, they should shine and shine for Him alone.
