December 3, 2025
— Timothy Keller · Source: “Blemishes in Christian Character, Part 3: Change and Grace” (timothykeller.com, 2013)
Ephesians 2:8–9 By grace you have been saved through faith, and not of your own accord; it is the gift of God, not of works, so that no one may boast.
This passage reminds me that salvation is not something I earned through effort, nor is it because I am better than others; it is a free gift of grace from God. The more I understand this, the more I see my own limitations, pride, and powerlessness, and the more grateful I become for all that Christ has accomplished for me. I realize that my current standing, hope, and identity are not based on performance, but on grace. This truth allows me to let go of boasting, learn humility and gratitude before God, and live out the rest and freedom that comes from grace in my life.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for saving me with your grace, so that I do not have to earn your love through my own actions. Help me to always remember that it was You who actively sought me out, accepted me, and transformed me. Help me to stay away from self-righteousness and pride, and learn to walk humbly before You. May I live each day in grace, rather than relying on my own efforts to sustain myself. Continue to shape me with Your grace, so that my life may reflect the image of Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.