Hello
The business of salvation is kinda sticky sometimes. For us believers don’t always agree on the ‘who’ which comprises the world to which God offers the wonderful gift of salvation or the ‘how’ of accessibility. Today’s Holy Nougat offers an entry into the conversation. I offer some thoughts, but invite each of us to discern God’s voice on this.
“Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” Ephesians 2:9 NLT
And if it is not earned by our efforts, then it is a gift to us. Salvation is not an ordinary gift. It has eternal value and comes with other almost personalized benefits, of which one is a relationship with God. Most of all, salvation is offered to everyone who desires it.
Which means no one has the franchise on God or God’s grace except for God. We can tell others about it, offer guidance on salvation’s intrinsic value, and live the joy as well as the freedom which salvation offers us. But salvation does not give us the right to diminish or be diminished by others.
I remember attending a worship service years ago where the leaders advised me (and the group I attended with) that our ‘brand’ of salvation did not qualify us to be included at their table. Had it been Their table, that would be correct. But when Christ invites; all are welcomed to the table. Salvation is God’s gift to a sinful world, not ours.
I will allow that thought to remain there; for I too wrestle with thoughts of ‘those’ people who should not qualify for salvation. And I truly want to declare my gift as exclusive. But salvation is God’s gift to me in exchange for my sin, not my gift to the world.
Got it? Get God
Good morning
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
