8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV)
Consider for a moment all that you do in the name of Christ. Can you list them out? Are you keeping count? Even though you know that no works earn you Christ salvation, are you trying to barter your way to heaven?
This may seem a harsh line of questioning, but hang with me for a moment. Yes, it is good to do things for Christ, or in His name. But just like with our giving, the right hand should not know what the left is doing. We should do “works” based upon our motivation to do them for Christ out of love and not to earn or make points with God. No amount of point making will work, because salvation is freely given.
If a loved one gives you a gift, you do not need to do something to earn it. You simply receive it. In turn it may make you want to do good things for them out of a sincere motivation of love, not simply in a reciprocal need to give them back a gift in return.
Reflect on: Your motivation for what you do for Christ.
