GOD’S LOVE IS NOT A REWARD "But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions —it is by grace you have been saved." – Ephesians 2:4-5 (NIV) God’s love is not a reward for good behavior; it is a gift of grace. Paul reminds us that we were spiritually dead —completely incapable of saving ourselves. Yet, in His rich mercy, God acted out of love, not because we deserved it, but because He is gracious. His love reaches us in our brokenness and lifts us into new life through Christ. Many people struggle with the idea of receiving love without earning it. In a world where approval is often based on performance, it is easy to believe that God’s love must also be worked for. But the gospel turns this thinking upside down. Before we could do anything good or worthy, God had already loved us and made a way for our salvation through Jesus (Romans 5:8). His love is not conditional; it is freely given. Because God’s love is a gift, we don’t have to live in fear of losing it. If we didn’t earn it, we can’t un-earn it. Our failures and weaknesses do not disqualify us from His grace. Instead of striving to be "good enough," we are called to rest in the love that has already been poured out through Christ. This truth sets us free from the burden of legalism and the fear of rejection. Understanding this changes how we live. When we embrace the depth of God’s love, it transforms our hearts. We serve Him not out of obligation but out of gratitude. We love others not to gain God’s approval but because we have already received His love in abundance. Grace moves us from striving to surrender, from fear to faith, from earning to enjoying the gift of salvation. Ultimately, Jesus is the fullest expression of God’s love. In Him, we see a love that rescues, restores, and renews. His grace reminds us that we are not defined by our past but by His mercy. As we walk in this love daily, may we extend the same grace to others, pointing them to the unearned, unshakable love of God. Meditate! Am I resting in God’s love, or am I still trying to earn what He has already given? Pray! Father, thank You for loving me unconditionally. Help me to fully embrace Your grace and live in the freedom of Your love. Let my life reflect the joy of being saved by Your mercy, not by my works. Amen. Act! Take a moment to thank God for His love. Let go of any mindset that makes you feel you must "earn" His favor. Extend grace to someone else today as a reflection of the grace you have received. Read! Romans 5:8, Titus 3:4-5, John 3:16, 1 John 4:9-10, 2 Corinthians 12:9. You are loved by God, not because of what you have done, but because of who He is. His grace is enough. Rest in the gift of His love today! SpiritWord × February 06, 2025 (C) Oluremi. OmuAjose, Ijebu. = Thank you for receiving The Word. To get it directly on WhatsApp, please follow our channel http://bit.ly/40W151F. Our weekly Christian Gathering & Discipleship Training continues this month! Hungry for growth, faith, and deeper community? DM or email us to join in. Let’s grow together in Christ! You can also join us by 4AM (WAT) on Thursdays for CAMPUS KINGDOM DECREES. For Counselling and/or Intercession, kindly mail [email protected]. This Valentine’s Day, our team will be spending time with three secondary schools as we kick off our 2025 Secondary Schools Outreaches. Send us a DM to volunteer, make inquiries, or connect us with other schools. Know someone looking to build a solid foundation in their Christian walk? Encourage them to join the Believers' Foundational Class! For details, email [email protected]. To get updates, partner/donate and other inquiries related to our ministry operations, please reach us via mail or Whatsapp. See you at 20:45 (NGR) for BUILDUP. https://bit.ly/4jDJORV.