A Gift of God
A devotional by Suzanne Felton
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”—Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
A well-worn easy chair, a threadbare jacket, and an old pair of shoes are used everyday items of no apparent value. They might have been nice at one time, but now they’re worn out and dated, not even fit for donation.
Why, then, were these things locked in a glass display case protected by state-of-the-art security systems? Why were people from all over the world gazing at them as if they were the most amazing chair, jacket, and shoes they’d ever seen?
I saw this display at the National Museum of American History. The chair was Archie Bunker’s iconic wingback from the TV show “All in the Family”, the jacket was worn by Fonzie from “Happy Days”, and the shoes belonged to Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz” (movie). Items that would have been overlooked or thrown away under ordinary circumstances had become priceless treasures simply because of who they belonged to.
How often do I question my self-worth? I feel that I’m not good enough, successful enough, or beautiful enough to be loved. Then there are times when I become proud of my own achievements and feel that I deserve everyone’s praise and applause because of them. In all these times I’m forgetting the source of my true value.
The Bible tells us that God’s love is not dependent on anything we achieve or possess. It cannot be earned; it is freely given to all who will receive it. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV). This truth is affirmed in John 3:16 (NIV): “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” We can’t do anything to earn God’s love; it’s there for anyone and everyone who will accept it by believing in Him. He loves us all so much He gave His Son (Jesus Christ) to die for us. God thinks we’re worth dying for and He wants us to belong to His Family of believers around the world who are part of His Kingdom.
Jesus used sheep as a metaphor to illustrate this truth in John 10:11-13 (NIV). He said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.” The hired hand gets paid to take care of the shepherd’s sheep, but at the first sign of trouble, he runs away to protect himself, leaving the sheep to their fate. Jesus is the good shepherd. Rather than see them slain by wolves, He will lay down his life for the sheep who belong to Him. He doesn’t say He’ll lay down his life for only certain sheep who meet certain criteria. He is willing to give His life for all the sheep who belong to Him.
After visiting the museum, I read that Archie Bunker’s chair, as well as the chair that belonged to his wife Edith on the TV set, were purchased from a thrift store for less than $10 total before the show was filmed. They were not special chairs in and of themselves; they were old and used before anyone even knew whether the TV show would be a success. Now, however, the ragged old chair has remained one of the most popular exhibits at the museum for decades, and it is considered to be priceless. All because of who it belonged to.
When you’re tempted to base your self-worth on what you’ve done, how much you have, or a label the hired-hand world has put on you, remember that your salvation is a gift from God, not of yourself. We belong to Jesus Christ. We are worth the highest price imaginable simply because of Who we belong to.
Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, please forgive me when I forget where my true value is found. Help me to remember the incredible price You paid through the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus Christ, so that I can belong to you. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
Song of Reflection #1: “My Worth Is Not in What I Own (Live feat. Fernando Ortega)” by Keith & Kristyn Getty. Listen to it here.
Song of Reflection #2: “Belong to You” by Here Be Lions. Listen to it here.
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Author Bio:
Suzanne Felton has been a writer for most of her life, even before she realized it.
She has worked in a wide range of settings, from non-profits to science labs to government contracts to educational classrooms, all of which involved writing in one form or another.
Suzanne is amazed by the power of words and now uses her passion and experience to help authors and students as a writing coach. Encouraging others to find the words and the courage to share their stories is one of her greatest joys.
Suzanne’s devotionals have been published in periodicals and blogs including The Upper Room, The Love Offering, Keys 4 Kids, and The Swallow’s Nest. She is also a two-time finalist in the Cascade Christian Writing Contest for poetry.
She is a wife, mother, writer, reader, teacher, deep thinker, and sinner saved by grace. Suzanne and her family reside in Northern Virginia, but Suzanne will always call her native South Carolina home.
Married to her best friend for twenty-five years, Suzanne is active in her church, where she and her husband have served as deacons for over a decade. They enjoy watching sports and visiting national parks with their two teenage sons. Suzanne is also an avid birder, easily and happily distracted by anything with feathers.
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Connect with Suzanne:
Website: https://suzannefelton.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/l_suzanne_felton
Email address: suzannefeltonwriter@gmail.com
