For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
Gracious God,
Forgive us.
We are so easily confused,
and when we read about the Old Testament law
and all the different kinds of offerings,
we sometimes believe that you once saved your people
through their keeping the law.
But the law was never meant to save,
only to point your people from the beginning of time
to your undeserved kindness.
We see this in what has been called the “Hall of Heroes,”
but is more aptly called the “Hall of Your Faithfulness.”
Indeed, from Abel to Abraham,
from Sarah to Samson,
none of the people mentioned in Hebrews 11
lived your law perfectly.
Instead, they “consider him faithful who had promised” (Heb. 11:11).
It is this faith in your faithfulness,
in your saving grace,
that saved them.
And it is this faith that saves us.
May we always remember
that you have faithfully carried out your plan
to save your people
from the beginning of time.
What good news this is,
since our works could never save us!
In the name of our faithful Savior, Jesus, we pray.
Amen.
