Gary and I made plans to go to a museum we’d never before attended because its admission was pricey and most of the attractions in D.C. are free, so we’ve kinda gotten used to that. But we’d heard good things about it, so we set aside the time and the money.

We went online to purchase our tickets only to discover that the day we’d chosen was free for a special promotion.

Part of me was so ready to pay, we’d psyched ourselves up for it and budgeted for it, so I almost wanted to. But the checkout reaffirmed that the price of our tickets was absolutely nothing.

That got me thinking about salvation.

So often, so very often, I want to pay for it. While I know I can do nothing to contribute to the incredible price Jesus paid and I need only accept it, I find myself thinking, “But what if I gave something? What if I did some extra works that weren’t part of what you made me to do? What if I paid just a little?”

I can’t and I know it. The Bible says all my works are filthy rags and if you know what that translates to, you know it’s really disgusting so I’m so not going there this morning. But that doesn’t stop me wanting to do something to buy God’s favor. It’s like when someone gives you a lavish gift that you can in no way pay back.

There was such an exchange when I was a teen. My aunt, for reasons known only to her, she never told me, bought me a necklace of my birthstones for my seventeenth birthday. It was much more than the usual exchange of presents. So, wanting to do more than the usual thank you, I made her a card—the prettiest I could with all the supplies I had. I think I remember even putting lace on it. I was trying to pay back beauty with beauty. But the disparity made my effort ridiculous, though she thanked me for it. But she had been content with my gratitude and didn’t need the card.

How much more extreme is it when I try to pay anything toward the salvation that I had no ability to achieve? After all, He is content with my gratitude.

 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, ESV)

With the ticket, with the necklace, I could only accept. I couldn’t pay for something that was already paid for.

Long before I was born, Jesus paid the penalty for the Garden in full. Upon the cross, He said “Tetelestai!” which means “paid in full”. His death purchased heaven for all who call upon His name in grateful and obedient belief. My status as a child of God was already paid for. I can’t pay for it again. (Not that I ever could!)

Instead, every time I start to think that way, I have to remember that I can make my card of construction paper and lace out of gratitude. I can walk in obedience and do the works He designed me for, while acknowledging that I owe Him absolutely nothing for His absolutely everything. I can accept and walk in the gift.

Wow, so many comments last week! Because of that, I will be sending off two gifts this week. The winner of Guzzy Goofball plus a couple bonuses is Antoinette M and Teri Ware wins a collection of gifts. If each of you could email me your address at slyttek@yahoo.com, I will send those right out to you.

2 more weeks of this summer giveaway!