Ephesians 2:9

Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it (Ephesians 2:9 NLT). 

It is important for us to recognize that the salvation God has offered to us has nothing at all to do with what we do for God.  It is important because it levels the playing field in light of the reality that we are all given different gifts:

There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.  There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.  And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NKJV).

As humans, we tend to place more importance on certain gifts than others.  For that reason, it would be easy for us to consider someone who has a more prominent gift that is obvious to everyone as having earned the reward of Heaven more than others because they have been used so dramatically.  Billy Graham would be a great example of this.  Yet the Bible makes it perfectly clear that all gifts are equal and given by the will of God.  They have nothing to do with salvation.  Salvation is the act of God alone:

So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:7 NKJV). 

Our gifts simply allow the Holy Spirit of God to do what He does best, which is to draw someone to Christ who in turn opens the door for grace.  It is by the grace of God alone that a person is rescued from darkness into light, from being hell-bound to heaven-bound, and from being an enemy of God to being a member of God’s family.

This truth about the part we play in salvation gives us great comfort and hope.  It is comforting to know that no one is responsible for another person’s salvation.  It is hopeful to know that as we exercise the gift that God has given us specifically, according to His perfect will, we are setting the stage for God’s Spirit to transact Kingdom business in the life of someone who has not yet received the great reward of salvation that Christ died to give them.

Today I will be diligent to exercise the spiritual gifts God has given me so that I can do my part in setting the stage for God to do His part. 

Check out Gennarino’s devotion on Ephesians 2:9.