August 11 – By Grace You Have Been Saved

Hope for Today: A Daily Devotion from Reasons for Hope*Jesus

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“By grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:5

To rely on grace and desire to be saved only by free grace is a sweet exercise. But, so far from being practiced enough, we have all need to learn the prayer of the publican better still, since the Pharisee is ever busy to creep in again. But care must be taken that we do not build our faith only upon the sweet enjoyments of the grace of God in our hearts — but also upon grace in the heart of God, as it is procured by Christ and promised to us through Christ. For which reason God sometimes denies us sensible enjoyments, that true faith may begin to act like itself and depend upon nothing but free grace in Christ. All this we have the boldness to do, should we ever seem to fall short of the due measure of faith, godly sorrow, and repentance. For since there is no merit to be placed in these things, there is no certain measure prescribed to all — but it is enough truly to hate sin, to desire grace, and sincerely to enter upon the Christian race. Enough to prove us Christians — but not enough to make us happy or very useful Christians.

Let us not be satisfied with what we have, while there is so much in Jesus for us. But let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.

Devotion by Karl Heinrich von Bogatzky (1690—1774)