Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.
What can be a stumbling block to many people is that little phrase, “and that not of yourselves”.
The reason is that we are living in an age where it is highly valued within society to be independent and self-sufficient.
Women today take pride in the fact they can be financially independent. Many businessmen take pride in not having to depend upon an employer but to be able to successfully run their own business and provide for themselves. I’m not saying these are not good – they are certainly admirable qualities.
But this mindset of self-dependence or self-sufficiency will become a stumbling block in your Christian walk because everything in the Christian faith comes not through depending upon yourself, but depending upon God’s grace.
Pastors are commonly asked, “Pastor, how can I be sure that God’s promises will come to pass in my life?" Or they will ask, “Pastor, please pray for me for such and such…”, because they think if the Pastor prays, then the prayer has a higher chance of coming to pass!
If you want to be certain that God’s promises will come to pass in your life, you cannot depend upon yourself or your own works. If you depend upon your abilities, obedience, goodness, works or service you will not be able to receive God’s promises. But when you depend upon God’s grace, His free gift of favor to you, that’s when His promises become certain in your life.
Ephesians says that we have been saved by grace and it is not of ourselves, it is a gift of God.
To help you walk by grace, learn to see every blessing as the “supply of the Lord”.
See healing as supply from God to you.
See provision as supply from God to you.
See your employment as supply from God to you.
See your family – your husband or wife; your children - as supply from God to you.
When you begin to see blessings and every good thing in your life as supply from God, it removes your dependency upon yourself and places it all upon God.
Don’t misunderstand me – I’m not saying to be mediocre, or lazy, or just do enough. We carry God’s Spirit of excellence and generosity and by grace, we can go the second mile. We can be great servants and stewards of our lives and what we have been entrusted with. But when it comes to what Christ has done for you at the cross; Salvation, Righteousness, and Blessings - this is all through the work of Christ and you receive this through believing, not through trying to earn or deserve it.