Ephesians 2:8-9 Your salvation is not a reward for good behavior! It was a grace thing from start to finish; you had no hand in it. Even the gift to believe simply reflects his faith! 9 If this could be accomplished through any action of yours then there would be ground for boasting.   MIRROR

We are justified by faith. Salvation is a free gift from God through faith. Similarly, we attain all of God’s promises, which we’re entitled to through grace.      

Today, we focus on the analogy of the colors of grace and mercy God uses to paint our lives. Just as a brush carries different colors to bring life and beauty to a work of art, God surrounds us with the colors of His grace and mercy. The verse in Ephesians 2:8 reminds us that our salvation is a gift from God, bestowed by his grace through faith. Through this gift, we are restored and forgiven, regardless of our flaws and imperfections. God’s grace transforms us, allowing us to live in his light.

According to the Voice Translation Bible, The relationship between faith and works is often misunderstood. Some think that salvation is God’s reward for good deeds. If that’s true, then it can’t possibly be a gift. If it were a reward, then heaven would be a place where people might compare notes on what they did to make it through the gates. But Paul is confident in the truth of the gospel. The truth is that salvation is God’s gift through Jesus. Grace and faith make salvation real in us. When we are transformed by grace, then we become His new creation and begin to live out the good works He has planned for us. Works, then, aren’t the cause of salvation; they are its result. To put it another way, works aren’t the means of salvation; they are its presence.

Our reflection today revolves around how we can share that grace and love with others. Just as we are covered in the colors of divine grace, we are called to be instruments of forgiveness, restoration, and compassion in the lives of those around us. May we be brushes that paint with the colors of God’s grace and mercy, spreading His light and love wherever we go. May this day inspire us to be channels of blessing to others, just as God has been to us.

For grace is given not because we have done good works, but in order that we may be able to do them. St. Augustine