by Pastor Peter Miguelez

“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

    Have you ever received a gift that felt too generous? Maybe someone paid for your groceries, or gave you something meaningful without expecting anything in return. In those moments, our natural response is often to say, "You didn’t have to do that!" We want to earn what we receive. But real gifts, especially the most life-changing ones, can’t be earned—only accepted.

    This is exactly how salvation works. Salvation means being rescued, healed, and reconnected with the One who created us. It’s God’s way of saying, "I love you too much to let you stay lost." And here's the incredible part: there's absolutely nothing you can do to earn it. No checklist, no rituals, no scorecard. God doesn't save us because we’re good. He saves us because He is good.

    That might sound unfair. And in a way, it is. God gives us what we don’t deserve: forgiveness, new life, and a fresh start. Instead of asking us to climb a ladder to reach Him, He came down to meet us where we are. That’s grace. That’s the heart of God.

    So many people carry the weight of guilt, shame, or the pressure to be "good enough" for God. But the Bible is clear: we are saved by grace through faith. It’s not about how much you’ve messed up, how long you’ve been away, or how little you know. It’s about simply trusting the One who loves you more than you could ever imagine.

     Once you accept that gift, everything changes. You begin to see yourself differently—not as a failure, but as someone deeply loved and fully accepted. You begin to live with peace instead of pressure, with hope instead of fear.

Think of salvation like being offered a life raft in stormy seas. You don’t need to understand everything about the boat to grab hold. You just need to reach out and accept it.

    So here’s the question: Are you still trying to earn what God has already offered for free? What would it look like to simply receive His gift today?

    Don't wait for the perfect moment or for your life to be in order. The gift is on the table. All you have to do is open your hands and say yes.