You can't save yourself!

Lifeguards know more than just how to stand next to the pool or how to glare at people doing dive bombs. They know how to save people from drowning! If a lifeguard is trying to save us, we need to stop kicking around trying to save ourselves. When we're struggling in water we tire easily, sink faster and can drag others down with us. That's why a lifeguard tells us to stop struggling and trust them.

It's true with God too: he doesn't need our help to save us! The Bible says, 'God's mercy is great, and he loved us very much. Though we were spiritually dead because of the things we did against God, he gave us new life with Christ... And he raised us up with Christ and gave us a seat with him in the heavens...you have been saved by grace through believing. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God. It was not the result of your own efforts' (Ephesians 2:4-9 NCV).

When Nicodemus came to talk to Jesus about salvation, he thought Jesus would give him a list of religious do's and don'ts. What this top religious leader failed to grasp is that God is not impressed with our good works; he loves us but, in his eyes, 'each of our good deeds is merely a filthy rag' (Isaiah 64:6 CEV). Humbling!



So what now? Paul writes: 'His grace...is a free gift' (Romans 3:24 NCV), and he's offering it to you today. Will you truly accept it?





— SCRIPTURE —

'Not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.' Ephesians 2:8 NKJV
— SOULFOOD —

Eph 1:1-4:16, John 1:1-13, Ps 92 , Pro 22:24-25